Características epidemiológicas de las nuevas infecciones causadas por el VIH comparadas con los casos de sida. La epidemia de VIH/sida en el País Vasco

[Delayed diagnosis of HIV infection in Spain]

OBJECTIVES

To analyse the prevalence of delayed diagnosis (DD) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, the trends over time and its determining factors from the Newly Diagnosed HIV-infected individuals Information System (SINIVIH) data, in process of being implemented in Spain.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study of newly diagnosed HIV-infected individuals between 2003 and 2007 in the 8 currently participating Spanish autonomous regions (AR). DD was defined as a CD4 count <200cells/μL at diagnosis. Adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence interval were calculated using logistic regression (OR; 95%CI).

RESULTS

Among the 5785 newly diagnosed HIV cases reported, 4798 had a CD4 cell count at diagnosis. Of these, 37.3% met the DD definition. An additional 19% had between 200 and 350cells/μL. The proportion of DD was lower for women than for men (32.9% versus 38.6%). According to exposure category, it was higher in heterosexuals (42.4%) and injecting drug users (IDUs) (40.1%) than in men who have sex with men (MSM) (26.7%). In the Spanish patient group, in multivariate logistic regression analyses, adjusting for AR and year of diagnosis, men were more likely to have a DD (OR=1.49; 95%CI:1.21-1.85). Compared to younger patients (20-29 years), LD was more frequent in older: 30-39 years (OR=2.08; 95% CI:1.63-2.67), 40-49 years (OR=3.98; 95% CI:3.07-5.16) and >49 years (OR=6.77; 95% CI:5.10-9.00); and compared to MSM, was more frequent in heterosexuals (OR=1.75; 95% CI:1.43-2.15) and IDUs (OR=1.75; 95% CI:1.38-2.22). DD decreased from 2003 to 2007 (OR=1.38; 95% CI:1.08-1.76). The same associated factors were found in immigrants, but with different magnitude: stronger association with men, heterosexuals and IDUs, and weaker association with older age.

CONCLUSIONS

DD affects almost four in every ten newly diagnosed HIV-infected individuals, and is significantly more common among men, age group over 30 years, IDUs and heterosexuals. These are associated factors both in Spanish and immigrants, but in the last group the association is stronger. Strategies to increase the perception of risk among these groups are needed, as well as the implementation of the SINIVIH in the whole country to improve and to extend the information on DD.

Diagnóstico tardío de la infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana en la Cohorte VACH (1997-2002)

OBJECTIVE

To study the prevalence of delayed diagnosis of HIV infection and associated factors.

METHODS

A cross sectional study of patients included in the Spanish VACH cohort who had been diagnosed with HIV infection between 1997 and 2002 was performed. Delayed diagnosis was defined as patients diagnosed with HIV infection and AIDS simultaneously or within the first month after the first positive serologic test, or those with a first CD4+ cell count below 200/ml. The epidemiological characteristics of these patients were compared with those of the remaining patients

RESULTS

Of 2,820 new cases of HIV infection, delayed diagnosis was found in 506 (18%). These patients differed from the remaining patients in their lower mean age and higher HIV viral load, as well as in their distribution by sex (higher proportion of males), occupational status, history of incarceration in prison, and HIV-risk transmission group. The median survival during follow-up was significantly lower among AIDS patients with a delayed diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Delayed diagnosis remains a cause for concern in our environment, due to its magnitude and its association with mortality. Some epidemiological characteristics provide clues to guide future programs directed at increasing information and improving prevention.

Characteristics and trends of newly diagnosed HIV-infections, 2000-2004

OBJECTIVE

To describe the characteristics and trends of newly diagnosed HIV-infections.

METHODS

We analysed all newly diagnosed HIV-infections among residents of the Canary Islands, Ceuta, La Rioja, Navarre and the Basque Country (Spain) between 2000 and 2004.

RESULTS

In total, 1,807 HIV-infections -74.4 per million inhabitants, per year- were diagnosed. The heterosexual transmission category was the most frequent (48.6%), followed by that of homo/bisexual men (23.0%) and injecting drug users (IDU) (22.5%). From 2000 to 2004, the rate of new diagnoses of HIV infection decreased by 29.8% (p < 0.0001). The rate of diagnoses of infections acquired by IDU diminished by 58.5% (p < 0.0001), and the rate of infections associated with homo/bisexual practices in men descended by 33.9% (p = 0.0318). Nevertheless, the rate of diagnoses of infections by heterosexual transmission has not undergone significant changes. In the period 2002-2004, 28.7% of cases were diagnosed in foreigners, but the rate of diagnoses in the population of non-Spanish origin diminished by 24% (p = 0.0534). 39.7% of HIV diagnoses were delayed (with CD4 < 200 cells/microlitre or coinciding with the diagnosis of AIDS). This situation was less frequent in women (odds ratio = 0.5; p < 0.001) and increased with age amongst people over 30. The proportion of delayed diagnoses reached a maximum in 2001 (47.5%) and then declined until 2004 (38.6%; p = 0.022).

CONCLUSIONS

Although none of the analysed indicators evolved unfavourably, it is important to insist on the prevention of sexual transmission, the early diagnosis of HIV infection, and the need to adapt preventive activities and focus them on people from other countries.

[Reporting of newly diagnosed HIV infections in Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain. Implementation and results]

OBJECTIVES

To describe newly diagnosed HIV infections from the HIV Reporting System in Catalonia (2001-2003), and to compare the characteristics of the epidemic based on the use of the HIV Reporting System and the Catalonian AIDS Registry versus those based on the Catalonian AIDS Registry alone.

METHODS

Data were collected from newly diagnosed HIV infections and AIDS cases between 2001 and 2003 in Catalonia.

RESULTS

Among the newly diagnosed HIV infections (1,765) the most frequent route of HIV infection was heterosexual transmission (46.8%), followed by men who had sex with men (26.7%), and injecting drug use (19.9%). Out of the 1,210 AIDS cases, the most common route of HIV transmission was injecting drug used (42.2%), followed by (heterosexual transmission 34.5%) and MSM (18.0%). Comparison of routes of HIV transmission in the two reporting systems (HIV/AIDS versus AIDS) revealed statistically significant differences.

CONCLUSIONS

The HIV/AIDS Reporting System based on reporting of newly diagnosed HIV infections is feasible, since it has been useful in achieving the objectives of epidemiological HIV infection surveillance. It also provides more accurate information than does the AIDS Registry, which can be used to describe recent patterns of HIV transmission. The completeness of the new reporting system may be enhanced by including the diagnosis of HIV infection among the diseases of mandatory notification.

[Considerations on surveillance of HIV infections. The experience of Navarre (Spain)]

OBJECTIVE AND METHODS

The number and proportion of cases in the HIV registry of Navarre (Spain) that were residents of this region were quantified, according to the census and the healthcare card database.

RESULTS

Of the 2,385 persons diagnosed with HIV infection to 2003, only 1,610 (67.5%) were residents of Navarre. The rate of HIV cases diagnosed among residents in Navarre was over 90 cases per million between 1994 and 1998, with values similar to those of Switzerland. In contrast with the time-trend in other European countries, the time-trend in Navarre decreased from 1994 to 2003. Since 2000 the rate of new HIV cases in Navarre has been lower than rates in Portugal, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Belgium, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.

CONCLUSION

To prevent overestimation of the number of HIV infections, cases duplicated between regions should be excluded. This could be achieved by a national HIV surveillance system.

Patrón epidemiológico de la infección por el VIH en 15 hospitales españoles: casos de nuevo diagnóstico incluidos en la cohorte VACH en 2001 y 2002

BACKGROUND

Studying the changing trends of HIV epidemics is a useful means of evaluating the results of current preventive plans as well as of defining future needs and objectives.

METHODS

We performed a cross-sectional study of the newly-diagnosed cases of HIV infection included in the Spanish VACH cohort. New HIV cases were defined as those diagnosed between January 2001 and December 2002. Their epidemiologic characteristics were compared with those of patients included in the same cohort who had been diagnosed between January 1998 and December 2000.

RESULTS

We studied 603 new cases (27% women). In 146 (24.4%) HIV infection had been acquired by sharing material for intravenous drug use (IVDU), 171 (28,6%) were men who had had sex with other men (MSM) and 247 (41.3%) acknowledged some risk for heterosexual HIV transmission. The median age was 36 years (range: 18-80). Only 1.5% of the patients were younger than 20 years while 32.1% were older than 40 years. This percentage was significantly higher than that corresponding to 1998-2000 (27.5%; p < 0,05). HIV infection was diagnosed simultaneously with an AIDS-defining condition in 13.3% of patients and an AIDS-defining disease was diagnosed in the first month after HIV-diagnosis in another 40 patients (6.6%).

CONCLUSIONS

We confirm the trends observed in previous studies: a growing proportion of newly diagnosed cases among women, a decreasing proportion of IVDU, a growth of MSM, and a trend toward diagnosis at a later age.