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| www.smw.ch |
| Daneel S, Schüpbach J, Gebhardt M, Werner M, Staub R, Vernazza P. |
Swiss Med Wkly 2008;138(31–32):453–458
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| Original article Peer reviewed article |
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| Summary Question under study: Can additional information be obtained from recently HIV diagnosed individuals? Methods: A 1-year prospective Swiss study, including all newly diagnosed HIV-infected patients. Information on circumstances of HIV infection was collected through physician- and patient questionnaires and patient interviews. Information on timing of infection was linked with an HIV-antibody avidity assay. Results: Of 710 newly HIV diagnosed patients, 543 (76%) physician questionnaires (PhyQ) and 145 (20%) patient questionnaires (PaQ) were returned. PhyQ required fewer reminders (57% vs 28% spontaneous return). Patients whose doctors had returned the PhyQ were comparable to total population group. In contrast, a strong bias towards well educated recently infected Swiss men having sex with men (MSM) was seen in patients returning PaQ or agreeing to an interview. 83% of patients claimed that they knew the infection source and 85% infection place. Unprotected sexual contact was the most frequently cited infection source (92%; n = 404). Men mainly claimed occasional (43%) and women steady (61%) partners as the most likely source of HIVinfection. Serum for timing of infection was available in 98% of patients. Recent infections (RI) were highest in MSM (51%) and intravenous drug users (IDU, 54%). Compared to women, heterosexual men were more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with a RI. Conclusion: Relevant additional information on circumstances of HIV infection in newly diagnosed patients can easily be collected from treating physicians. Collecting information from patients is not a feasible option, with the exception of qualitative interviews in a selected group of patients. |
Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, Switzerland National Centre for Retroviruses, University of Zürich, Switzerland Federal office of Public Health Bern, Switzerland |
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Copyright © 2008 EMH Swiss Medical Publishers Ltd. |
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