Routine Data Analysis of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Use and Rates of Sexually Transmitted Infections Since Coverage of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis by the Statutory Health Insurance in Germany.

Human immunodeficiency virus pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is considered as an effective protection against a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. However, it is still unclear, how PrEP use is associated with the incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STI) other than HIV. PrEP became reimbursable in Germany from September 1, 2019 for persons with statutory health insurance (SHI).

Dynamics of HIV PrEP use and coverage during and after COVID-19 in Germany.

Background: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with oral emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil (FTC/TDF) proved highly efficient in preventing HIV. Since 09/2019, FTC/TDF-PrEP is covered by health insurances in Germany, if prescribed by licensed specialists. However, methods to longitudinally monitor progress in PrEP implementation in Germany are lacking.

Long-acting prescriptions and therapy for HIV-1 from market launch to the present in Germany (May 2021 to December 2023).

Background: In Europe, the combination of cabotegravir (CAB) with rilpivirine (RPV) has been approved as a dual injection long-acting (LA) therapy for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infections in adults since December 2020. Studies have shown that between 36 and 61% of people living with HIV (PLWHIV) prefer LA therapy. However, there are no real-world data on the number of people receiving LA therapy, in Germany or internationally.

AIDS-defining events among people living with HIV who have been under continuous antiretroviral therapy for more than one year, a German cohort study 1999-2018.

Purpose: This study examined the characteristics, incidence and prognostic factors of the first AIDS-defining condition developed after more than one year of continuous antiretroviral therapy (ART) among people living with HIV (PLHIV).

Methods: We used data from two multicentre observational cohorts of PLHIV in Germany between 1999 and 2018. Our outcome was the first AIDS-defining event that occurred during follow-up after more than one year of continuous ART.

[Evaluating the introduction of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis as a benefit of statutory health insurance (EvE-PrEP) : Highly effective protection against HIV without an increase in sexually transmitted infections].

Background: We investigated the impact of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as a new service of the statutory health insurance (SHI) on the incidence of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Germany. In addition, PrEP needs and access barriers were analyzed.

Methods: The following data were evaluated as part of the evaluation project: HIV and syphilis notification data and extended surveillance by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), pharmacy prescription data, SHI routine data, PrEP use in HIV-specialty care centers, Checkpoint, the BRAHMS and PrApp studies, as well as a community board.

Additional challenges in reaching hepatitis C elimination goals in Germany due to the COVID-19 pandemic - descriptive analysis of drug prescription data from January 2018 to June 2021.

Effectively treating hepatitis C viral (HCV) infections prevents sequelae and onward transmission. In Germany, HCV drug prescriptions have declined since 2015. During the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns impacted the access to HCV care services and HCV treatment.

AIDS in the era of antiretroviral therapy: Changes in incidence rates and predictors of AIDS among people living with HIV under clinical care in Germany, a cohort study 1999-2018.

Objectives: This study examined the incidence rates and predictive utility of established prognostic factors for the progression to AIDS among people living with HIV under clinical care.

Methods: We used data from two observational cohorts of people living with HIV in Germany between 1999 and 2018. The outcome measure was the first AIDS-defining event that occurred during follow-up.

Low incidence of HIV infection and decreasing incidence of sexually transmitted infections among PrEP users in 2020 in Germany.

Introduction: Objectives of this study, as part of a nation-wide HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) evaluation project, were to determine the incidence of infections with HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, hepatitis A/B/C in persons using PrEP, and to describe the health care funded PrEP use in Germany. Additionally, factors associated with chlamydia/gonorrhea and syphilis infections were assessed.

Methods: Anonymous data of PrEP users were collected at 47 HIV-specialty centers from 09/2019-12/2020.

Corrigendum: Increasing Number of Individuals Receiving Hepatitis B nucleos(t)ide Analogs Therapy in Germany, 2008-2019.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.

Decreasing prevalence and stagnating incidence of Hepatitis C-co-infection among a cohort of HIV-1-positive patients, with a majority of men who have sex with men, in Germany, 1996-2019.

Co-infection with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) among HIV-positive patients leads to accelerated progression of liver disease and AIDS. Due to increased HCV prevalence and incidence, co-infection requires monitoring trends among HIV-positive individuals. This will help target prevention strategies and support to reach the global goals of eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat.

Cost-savings and potential cost-savings through the distribution of generic antiretroviral drugs within the statutory health insurance market of Germany between January 2017 and June 2019.

Background: Recent patent losses for antiretroviral drugs (ARV) have led to the debate of cost-saving through the replacement of patented drugs with generic drugs. The split of recommended single-tablet regimens (STR) into their single substance partners is one of the considerations mentioned in said debate. Particularly, generic tenofovir disoproxil/emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) is expected to hold untapped cost-saving potential, which may curb increasing overall expenditures for combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) within the statutory health insurance (SHI) of Germany.

Increasing Number of Individuals Receiving Hepatitis B nucleos(t)ide Analogs Therapy in Germany, 2008-2019.

Germany is a low prevalence country for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection with higher prevalence in vulnerable groups. The number of treated chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients is unknown. We aimed to determine the number of CHB patients treated with nucleos(t)ide analogs (NUCs), the treatment costs within the statutory health insurance (SHI) in Germany and per patient per month.

[How do generic quotas work? An analysis using HIV infection as an example].

Background: Instruments controlling statutory healthcare medical supply have long been a topic of debate in health policy reform discussions. Over the years, a variety of tools have been developed, most of which are aimed at controlling drug expenditure. The instruments controlling regional prescriptions primarily focus on controlling behavioural patterns of the prescribing physicians.

Everything counts - a method to determine viral suppression among people living with HIV using longitudinal data for the HIV care continuum - results of two large, German, multi-center real-life cohort studies over 20 years (1999-2018).

Background: The aim of this study was to develop a standardized method to reconstruct persons' individual viral load (VL) courses to determine viral suppression and duration of viremia for the HIV care continuum in Germany using longitudinal cohort data.

Methods: We analyzed data from two large, multi-center German cohort studies under the direction of the Robert Koch Institute. We included data from 1999 to 2018 of all diagnosed people and of people who initiated antiretroviral treatment (ART).

Completeness of tuberculosis case notifications in Germany in 2013-2017: first results of an inventory study.

Background: Evaluating the completeness of tuberculosis (TB) notification data is important for monitoring of TB surveillance systems. We conducted an inventory study to calculate TB underreporting in Germany in 2013-2017.

Methods: Acquisition of two pseudonymized case-based data sources (national TB notification data and antibiotic resistance surveillance data) was followed by two-source Capture-recapture (CRC) analysis, as case-based data from a third source was unavailable.

Treatment modification after starting cART in people living with HIV: retrospective analysis of the German ClinSurv HIV Cohort 2005-2017.

Objective: Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has markedly increased survival and quality of life in people living with HIV. With the advent of new treatment options, including single-tablet regimens, durability and efficacy of first-line cART regimens are evolving.

Methods: We analyzed data from the prospective multicenter German Clinical Surveillance of HIV Disease (ClinSurv) cohort of the Robert-Koch Institute.

Correction to: Antiretroviral treatment indications and adherence to the German-Austrian treatment initiation guidelines in the German ClinSurv HIV Cohort between 1999 and 2016.

In this article the cooperating partners of the ClinSurv HIV cohort were not listed in the acknowledgements. The correct paragraph appears below.

Cost-effectiveness and budget effect of pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV-1 prevention in Germany from 2018 to 2058.

BackgroundPre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a highly effective HIV prevention strategy for men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM). The high cost of PrEP has until recently been a primary barrier to its use. In 2017, generic PrEP became available, reducing the costs by 90%.

Antiretroviral treatment indications and adherence to the German-Austrian treatment initiation guidelines in the German ClinSurv HIV Cohort between 1999 and 2016.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess guideline adherence to combined antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the German ClinSurv HIV Cohort and the real-life impact of the Strategic Timing of Antiretroviral Therapy (START) study, to identify patients not treated as recommended by new guidelines.

Methods: We used data from the multicenter ClinSurv cohort of the Robert-Koch-Institute (RKI) between 1999 and 2016. Inclusion criteria were people living with HIV/AIDS, ≥ 18 years of age and cART naïve at the first visit (FV).

High variability of TB, HIV, hepatitis C treatment and opioid substitution therapy among prisoners in Germany.

Background: In Germany, medical care of prisoners is completely separated from extramural health care. The extent and quality of medical care among prisoners in Germany are therefore largely unknown. We performed a secondary data analysis of pharmacy sales data for tuberculosis (TB), HIV, hepatitis C (HCV) and opioid substitution treatment (OST) delivered to prisons in 11 federal states (FS) in Germany between 01/2012 and 03/2013.

Immunological recovery in tuberculosis/HIV co-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy: implication for tuberculosis preventive therapy.

Background: Understanding the immune response to combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) is essential for a clear approach to tuberculosis (TB) preventive therapy. We investigated the immunological recovery in cART-treated HIV-infected patients developing TB compared to those who remained free of TB.

Methods: We extracted data of HIV-infected patients from a multicenter cohort for the HIV clinical surveillance in Germany.

Real-world treatment for chronic hepatitis C infection in Germany: Analyses from drug prescription data, 2010-2015.

Background & Aims: Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for hepatitis C virus (HCV) have strongly improved treatment options since 2014, but it is unclear if treatment numbers have increased. We aimed to estimate the number of treatment regimens per month from 2010-2015 and the number of patients treated and cured with DAAs since 2014, as well as the associated costs.

Methods: Drug prescription data of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antivirals for patients with statutory health insurance in Germany (∼85% of population) from January 2010-December 2015 were evaluated.