AIDS cases with no identified risk: artifact or reality? The Connecticut example.
Connecticut's 66 AIDS cases initially reported with no identified risks (NIRS) were reviewed and intensively investigated. Investigation resulted in reclassification of 45 cases (68.2%) to categories of known risk; one case (1.5%) was misdiagnosed as AIDS. Twenty cases (30.3%) remain NIRS because no risk could be established at this time. Evidence that NIRS represent reporting artifact, rather than unknown or new modes of transmission, was found. (1) NIRS are cases for which information on sexual behavior is highly sensitive or difficult to obtain. After investigation, 72% of reclassified Connecticut NIRS were determined to have risks related to sexual transmission. (2) The percentage of NIRS fluctuates according to reporting source and method of investigation. Within Connecticut, major reporting sources vary from a high of 15% to a low of 0% NIRS among their cases. The most effective method for establishing risks was to obtain information from reporting sources.
J W
JW
Miller
M
M
Eichler
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003237:Connecticut; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors