Abstract

--- - We set out to investigate the potential impact of unemployment on HIV viral load in individuals living with HIV at the biggest HIV-related healthcare centre in Chile. We analysed a cross-sectional dataset of 803 adults living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy. The main exposure was employment status. The outcome, detectable HIV viral load, was operationalised using a cut-off of HIV viral load at 20 copies/mL. We applied a propensity score method, the inverse probability of treatment weighting to control for measured confounders. We found that 219 (27.3%) of participants were unemployed. Being unemployed was associated with increased odds of being detectable (OR = 1.78, 95%CI = 1.18-2.71) compared to being employed. Additionally, we found that those unemployed and non-adherents have higher odds of being detectable (OR = 2.53, 95%CI = 1.18-5.41). Unemployment status may influence HIV viral load. However, further research is needed to determine and understand the social structure behind those relationships in the Chilean people living with HIV. - Nos propusimos investigar el potencial impacto del desempleo en la supresi & oacute;n viral de VIH en personas viviendo con VIH en uno de los centros m & aacute;s grandes de Chile. Analizamos una base de datos transversal de 803 adultos en tratamiento antirretroviral donde el principal factor de exposici & oacute;n fue el estado de empleo del participante y el desenlace, la detectabilidad de la carga viral de VIH (>= 20 copias/mL). Aplicamos la ponderaci & oacute;n por el inverso de la probabilidad de tratamiento para controlar por los confusores. De los participantes, 219 (27.3%) estaban desempleados. El desempleo se asoci & oacute; con un aumento en los odds de estar detectable, en comparaci & oacute;n con estar empleado (OR = 1.78, 95%CI = 1.18-2.71). Adicionalmente, encontramos que aquellos participantes desempleados y no adherentes tuvieron mayores odds de estar detectables (OR = 2.53, 95%CI = 1.18-5.41). El desempleo puede influenciar la supresi & oacute;n de la carga viral de VIH. Sin embargo, se necesita m & aacute;s estudios para determinar y comprender la estructura social de esta relaci & oacute;n en la poblaci & oacute;n chilena viviendo con VIH.