HIV by Age: Viral Suppression

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Data for 2020 should be interpreted with caution due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to HIV testing, care-related services, and case surveillance activities in state and local jurisdictions. While 2020 data on HIV diagnoses and prevention and care outcomes are available, we are not updating this web content with data from these reports.

Viral suppression is one of the six Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. indicators. Viral suppression refers to the percentage of people with diagnosed HIV who have less than 200 copies of HIV per milliliter of blood.

Ending the HIV Epidemic goal banner for viral suppression.

It is important for people to know their HIV status so they can take medicine to treat HIV if they have the virus. Taking HIV medicine every day can make the viral load undetectable. People who get and keep an undetectable viral load (or remain virally suppressed) can stay healthy for many years and will not transmit HIV to their sex partners.

People with Diagnosed HIV in 44 States and the District of Columbia by Age, 2019*

* Data not available for children aged 12 and under.
† Had 2 viral load or CD4 tests at least 3 months apart in a year.
‡ Based on most recent viral load test.
Source: CDC. Monitoring selected national HIV prevention and care objectives by using HIV surveillance data—United States and 6 dependent areas, 2019. HIV Surveillance Supplemental Report 2021;26(2).

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Missed HIV Medical Care Appointments Among People with Diagnosed HIV in the US by Age, 2019*

Overall, 24 percent of all people with HIV missed at least 1 medical appointment in the past 12 months.

* Data not available for people aged 17 and under.
Source: CDC. Medical Monitoring Project.

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Needed HIV Ancillary Care Services Among People with Diagnosed HIV in the US by Age, 2019*†

Nearly half of all people with HIV needed at least 1 HIV ancillary care service in the past 12 months.

Abbreviations: SNAP = Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; WIC = Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.
* Data not available for people aged 17 and under.
† HIV ancillary care services, such as case management and mental health services, are services that support retention in HIV care.
‡ Data for shelter or housing services among people aged 18 to 24 are too small to report.
Source: CDC. Medical Monitoring Project.

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HIV Treatment Among People with Diagnosed HIV in the US by Age, 2019*

More than half (61%) of all people with HIV took all their doses of HIV medicine over the last 30 days.

* Data not available for people aged 17 and under.
Source: CDC. Medical Monitoring Project.

Depression and Anxiety Among People with Diagnosed HIV in the US by Age, 2019*

Overall, 22 percent of all people with HIV experienced symptoms of depression and anxiety in the past 12 months.

* Data not available for people aged 17 and under.
Source: CDC. Medical Monitoring Project.

Homelessness Among People with Diagnosed HIV in the US by Age, 2019*

Nearly 1 in 10 (or 9 percent) of all people with HIV experienced homelessness in the past 12 months.

* Data not available for people aged 17 and under.
Source: CDC. Medical Monitoring Project.

Median HIV Stigma Score Among People with Diagnosed HIV in the US by Age, 2019*

People with HIV experience stigma. The median HIV stigma score among all people with HIV was 31.

Median HIV stigma scores are presented based on a ten-item scale ranging from 0 (no stigma) to 100 (high stigma) that measures personalized stigma, disclosure concerns, negative self-image, and perceived public attitudes about people with HIV.
* Data not available for people aged 17 and under.
Source: CDC. Medical Monitoring Project.