Mahto M, Ponnusamy K, Schuhwerk M, Richens J, Lambert N, Wilkins E, Churchill D R, Miller R F, Behrens R H
HIV Med. 2006 May;7(4):201-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-1293.2006.00371.x.
The USA bans entry to non-citizens unless they obtain a waiver visa.
To establish how many people with HIV infection travelled to the USA, whether they were aware of the travel restriction, whether they travelled with a waiver visa and HIV inclusive medical insurance and how they managed with their antiretroviral medication (ARV).
Collation of data from cross-sectional studies conducted independently at three different medical centres, Manchester, Brighton and London, using a structured self-completion questionnaire.
The overall response rate was 66.6% (1113 respondents). 349 (31%) had travelled to the USA since testing HIV positive, of whom only 14.3% travelled with a waiver visa. 64% and 62% of the respondents at Manchester and Brighton were aware of the need of a waiver visa. 68.5% (212) were on ARV medication at the time of travel and, of these, 11.3% stopped their medication. Of those taking ARV medication, only 25% took a doctors' letter, 11.7% posted their medication in advance. Of those discontinuing treatment (n=27), 55.5% sought medical advice before stopping, 11 were on NNRTI-based regimen and one developed NNRTI-based mutation. Only 27% took up HIV inclusive medical insurance. Many patients reported negative practical and emotional experiences resulting from travel restrictions.
The majority of HIV patients travel to the USA without the waiver visa, with nearly half doing so with insufficient planning and advice. A significant minority (11.3%) stop their medication in an unplanned manner, risking the development of drug resistance.
美国禁止非公民入境，除非他们获得豁免签证。
确定有多少艾滋病毒感染者前往美国，他们是否知晓旅行限制，是否持豁免签证和包含艾滋病治疗的医疗保险前往美国，以及他们如何管理抗逆转录病毒药物（ARV）。
使用结构化自填问卷，对在曼彻斯特、布莱顿和伦敦三个不同医疗中心独立进行的横断面研究数据进行整理。
总体回复率为66.6%（1113名受访者）。自检测出艾滋病毒呈阳性以来，349人（31%）前往过美国，其中只有14.3%持豁免签证前往。曼彻斯特和布莱顿的受访者中，分别有64%和62%知晓需要豁免签证。68.5%（212人）在旅行时正在服用抗逆转录病毒药物，其中11.3%停止了用药。在服用抗逆转录病毒药物的人中，只有25%携带了医生的信函，11.7%提前邮寄了药物。在停止治疗的人（n = 27）中，55.5%在停药前寻求了医疗建议，11人采用基于非核苷类逆转录酶抑制剂（NNRTI）的治疗方案，1人出现基于NNRTI的耐药突变。只有27%购买了包含艾滋病治疗的医疗保险。许多患者报告了旅行限制带来的负面实际和情感体验。
大多数艾滋病毒感染者前往美国时未持豁免签证，近一半的人在没有充分规划和建议的情况下这样做。相当一部分人（11.3%）无计划地停止用药，有产生耐药性的风险。
