HIV Testing and Preexposure Prophylaxis Prescriptions Among U.S. Commercially Insured Transgender Men and Women, 2014 to 2021.

BACKGROUND

Transgender persons are disproportionately affected by HIV, but preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use has been low in this population. Clinical encounters for gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) provide opportunities for HIV prevention.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the number of commercially insured transgender women (TGW) and transgender men (TGM) in the United States and their use of HIV prevention services.

DESIGN

Retrospective analysis of secondary data.

SETTING

Merative MarketScan commercial databases from 2014 to 2021.

PARTICIPANTS

TGW and TGM, defined as those with transgender-related diagnoses and prescriptions for feminizing or masculinizing GAHT.

MEASUREMENTS: HIV testing and PrEP use.

RESULTS

A substantially increasing trend was observed in the prevalence of transgender-related diagnosis codes from 2014 to 2021 and in the proportion of persons who used GAHT. The increases were driven by persons aged 18 to 34 years. In 2021, among 10 613 TGW with a test for or a diagnosis of a sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the previous 12 months, 61.1% had an HIV test; among those, 20.2% were prescribed PrEP. Among 4184 TGM with STI risk, 48.3% had an HIV test; among those, 10.2% were prescribed PrEP. The prevalence of TGW and TGM who had a test for or a diagnosis of an STI, had an HIV test, and were prescribed PrEP increased substantially from 2014 to 2021.

LIMITATION: The findings represent only persons with commercial health insurance who sought health care services for GAHT.

CONCLUSION

It is important to identify transgender persons to monitor their receipt of HIV prevention services. Encounters for GAHT provide opportunities to offer HIV prevention and other prevention services. Many HIV prevention opportunities were likely missed at clinical encounters for GAHT.

PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: None.