BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has changed HIV outpatient care. Patients (pts) were transitioned from in-person (IN-P) visits to telehealth (TELE) encounters. We sought to evaluate the impact of TELE on HIV infected pts during the pandemic period (COV) and compare it to the pre-pandemic (pre-COV) care.MethodsA retrospective study in an outpatient HIV clinic. Two periods were defined: Pre-COV 3/16/2019 - 3/15/2020 and COV 3/16/2020- 3/15/2021. Data was collected on demographics, lab values and physician encounters. ResultsA total of 1136 pts were seen over 2 years, mean age 51.6 years. During pre-COV, 530 pts were seen IN-P and 606 pts had encounters during COV, of them 50.2% had exclusive TELE visits. The percentage of pts with CD4 > 200/µL and those with undetectable HIV VL at first and last encounter were compared between the two study periods. During pre-COV, there was no difference in the percent pts with CD4 > 200/µL (B90.5% vs. 94.3%, p=.87) or HIV VL (88.5% vs. 90.3%, p=0.41) but during COV there was significant difference in CD4 (90.3% vs. 94.2%, p=0.03) and HIV VL (87% vs. 93%, p=0.002). More new pts were seen and less changes to ART regimens were done during COV (8.6%vs 7 p=0.26) and (19% to 29%, p=0 .32) respectively.ConclusionsIn our clinic, transitioning to TELE resulted in larger number of encounters and more new pts entered care; CD4 and HIV viral load improvements were seen. TELE is an effective platform for HIV out patient care.

Background HIV outpatient in-person (IN-P) visits were limited during the COVID-19 pandemic, and most patients (pts) were cared for remotely through telehealth (TELE). We sought to evaluate the impact of TELE on HIV infected pts during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic IN-P care. Methods Retrospective chart review of pts in an outpatient HIV clinic, study period 03/30/2019 to 03/29/2021. Two periods were defined: pre-COVID (Pre-CO) 3/30/2019 to 3/29/2020 and COVID (CO) 3/30/2020 to 3/29/2021. Data was collected on demographics, HIV risk, type of encounter, number of encounters, CD4, HIV Viral loads (VL) at first, and last visit, treatment regimen information. HIV VL < 200 copies/ml was considered as undetectable. Results A total of 607 pts were evaluated. Mean age 51years; (Range-20-84). Male 306 (50.4%), African American 545(90%), Hispanic 50 (8.2%), white 9 (1.5%), Asian 3(0.5%). HIV risk: heterosexual 437(72%), male sex with male 118(19.4%), intravenous drug use 8 (1.3%). In the Pre-CO period, 530 pts were seen as IN-P; in the CO period 606 pts were encountered of which 304 (50.2%) were TELE visits, 89(14.7%) IN-P, 213(35%) had both TELE and IN-P encounters. Mean number of encounters were 2.59 in the Pre-CO and 2.46 during CO. The number of new pts in the Pre-CO were 36 (7%) vs. 52(8.6%) in the CO (p=0.26). During the pre-CO, 373 pts had CD4 measured at first and last visits, 353(95%) at the first visit and 352 (94.3%) at the last visit had CD4 counts ≥ 200/uL (p=.87); 373 pts had a VL done at first and last visits, 330 (88.5%) at the first visit and 337(90.3%) at last visit were undetectable (p=0.41). During CO, 445 pts had CD4 measured at first and last visits, 402 (90.3%) at the first visit and 445(94.2%) at the last visit had CD4 count ≥200/uL (p=0.03); 448 pts had VL measured at first and last encounters, 389(87%) at the first visit and 417(93%) in the last visit were undetectable (p=0.002). Antiretroviral changes occurred in 29% in the Pre-Co compared to 19% in the CO (p=0 .32). Conclusion In our clinic, more pts were cared for during the CO period compared to the Pre-CO period. Significantly, more pts had undetectable HIV VL during CO period. At least one TELE visit was utilized by over ¾ of the pts. TELE has a potentially important role in future HIV care without compromising patient outcomes. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures