JMIR research protocols
A US-Based National Virtual Cohort of People Living With HIV at Risk for Viral Nonsuppression: Protocol for the EPI-LoVE Prospective Cohort Study
By Javanbakht M, Hightow-Weidman LB, Young SD and 6 others.
Abstract
Background
Despite advances in HIV treatment, many people living with HIV fail to achieve or maintain viral suppression. Individuals who experience interruptions in HIV care, adherence challenges, and viral nonsuppression are often underrepresented in clinic-based cohort studies. Virtual cohort methodologies offer opportunities to recruit, engage, and retain these populations while integrating longitudinal behavioral, biomarker, and digital engagement data needed to characterize dynamic changes in HIV care engagement and viral suppression.
Objective
The Exploring, Predicting, and Intervening on Long-Term Viral Suppression Electronically (EPI-LoVE) study was developed to establish a national virtual cohort of people living with HIV with current viral nonsuppression or at an elevated risk of future viral nonsuppression. We describe the study design, recruitment, data collection methods, retention strategies, and baseline cohort characteristics.