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.