The HIV care continuum is a framework that models the dynamic stages of HIV care. The continuum consists of five\nmain steps, which, at the population level, are depicted cross-sectionally as the HIV treatment cascade. These steps\ninclude diagnosis, linkage to care (LTC), retention in care (RiC), adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART), and viral suppression.\nAlthough the HIV treatment cascade is represented as a linear, unidirectional framework, persons living with\nHIV (PLWH) often experience the care continuum in a less streamlined fashion, skip steps altogether, or even exit the\ncontinuum for a period of time and regress to an earlier stage. The proportion of PLWH decreases at each successive\nstep of the cascade, beginning with an estimated 86% who are diagnosed and dropping dramatically to approximately\n30% of PLWH who are virally suppressed in the United States (US). In this current issues review, we describe\neach step in the cascade, discuss targeted interventions that address weak points in the continuum, review domestic\nand international policies that help shape and direct HIV care strategies, and conclude with recommendations and\nfuture directions for HIV providers and policymakers. While we primarily examine issues related to domestic HIV care\nin the US, we also discuss international applications of the continuum in order to provide broader context.
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