Profile of new HIV diagnoses and risk factors associated with late diagnosis in a specialized outpatient clinic during the 2014-2018 period.

INTRODUCTION

Late diagnosis (LD) of HIV infection is associated with an increase in morbidity and mortality and transmissibility. The aim of this study was to define the clinical characteristics of new diagnoses and clarify the risk factors (RF) associated with LD with or without advanced disease (AD) between 2014 and 2018.

METHODS

Patients with a new diagnosis of HIV infection treated in a specialised outpatient clinic of a third level hospital were included. LD with or without AD was defined as aCD4 count < 350 cel/mm3 or CD4 < 200 cel/mm3 respectively and/or the presence of any AIDS condition on diagnosis. An analysis was performed using binary logistic regression to analyse the RF associated with LD and the AD.

RESULTS

Of the 205 new diagnoses, 102 (50%) were LD. Age ≥ 32 years [(OR, 95% CI); 2.92 (1.52-5.59)], transmission different than in men who have sex with men [3.39 (1.56-7.34)] and hospitalisation on diagnosis [9.68 (2.63-35.68)] were RF associated with LD. On the other hand, having a concomitant sexually transmitted disease (STD) [.37 (.17-.77)] was associated with an early diagnosis. The results were similar when analysing the LD with AD except for the STD.

CONCLUSION

Knowledge of the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of new diagnoses of HIV infection and of the RF for LD with or without AD provides an opportunity for early diagnosis and to reduce transmissibility.