To assess the extent of nondisclosure of known HIV status
among sexual health clinic attendees and to quantify the impact of
nondisclosure on estimates of undiagnosed HIV prevalence and of the proportion
of patients remaining undiagnosed on leaving the clinic.
ARVs were detected in 27% of samples taken from 'previously
undiagnosed' attendees, who did not have an HIV test but were HIV positive as
detected by unlinked anonymous testing, indicating nondisclosure; 24% of such
samples from MSM had ARVs present compared with 32% of heterosexual men and
women. ARVs were detected in 33% of samples from London clinics and in 21% from
non-London clinics. Following adjustment, the estimated prevalence of
undiagnosed HIV decreased nonsignificantly from 3.04% to 2.66% among MSM, 0.31% to 0.30% in heterosexual men and 0.40% to 0.37% in
women; 7% of MSM who do not have an HIV test at a clinic visit will be infected
with HIV and remain unaware of their infection.
Nondisclosure of HIV status to healthcare professionals
occurs among clinic attendees. Adjustment for nondisclosure results in a small,
nonsignificant decrease in the prevalence of undiagnosed HIV estimated from the
unlinked anonymous survey in sexual health clinics. Testing the population of
MSM not having an HIV test remains a priority as levels of undiagnosed HIV are
high.
- 1aHIV/STI Department, Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control, Public Health England, Colindale bChelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London cUniversity of Liverpool, Liverpool dVirus Reference Department, Microbiology Services, Public Health England, Colindale, UK.
More at: https://twitter.com/hiv_insight
No comments:
Post a Comment