Nwora Lance Okeke

Background We previously identified 3 latent classes of healthcare utilization among people with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH): adherent, nonadherent, and sick. Although membership in the “nonadherent” group was associated with subsequent disengagement from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care, socioeconomic predictors of class membership remain unexplored. Methods We validated our healthcare utilization–based latent class model of PWH receiving care at Duke University (Durham, North Carolina) using patient-level data from 2015 to 2018. SDI scores were assigned to cohort members based on residential addresses. Associations of patient-level covariates with class membership were estimated using multivariable logistic regression and movement between classes was estimated using latent transition analysis. Results A total of 1443 unique patients (median age of 50 years, 28% female sex at birth, 57% Black) were included in the analysis. PWH in the most disadvantaged (highest) SDI decile were more likely to be in the “nonadherent” class than the remainder of the cohort (odds ratio [OR], 1.58 [95% confidence interval {CI}, .95–2.63]) and were significantly more likely to be in the “sick” class (OR, 2.65 [95% CI, 2.13–3.30]). PWH in the highest SDI decile were also more likely to transition into and less likely to transition out of the “sick” class. Conclusions PWH who resided in neighborhoods with high levels of social deprivation were more likely to have latent class membership in suboptimal healthcare utilization groupings, and membership persisted over time. Risk stratification models based on healthcare utilization may be useful tools in the early identification of persons at risk for suboptimal HIV care engagement.