title: Understanding the dynamics of the HIV epidemic among Italian intravenous drug users: a cross-sectional versus a longitudinal approach.
abstract: We studied annual human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seroprevalence and incidence in a large number of intravenous drug users attending drug treatment centers in three Italian urban areas. We also evaluated risk factors for HIV seropositivity and for HIV seroconversion. The results showed that HIV prevalence and incidence are declining. HIV prevalence declined dramatically in study participants that were < 25 years old. Prevalent HIV cases were associated with older age and longer duration of intravenous drug use; however, short duration of drug use increased the risk of seroconversion. The findings of our study suggest that comparing cross-sectional and longitudinal data contributes to a better understanding of the dynamics of the HIV epidemic among intravenous drug users.
authors.affiliation: AIDS Unit, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rezza
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nicolosi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaccarelli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sagliocca
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nespoli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gattari
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Spizzichino
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ippolito
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lazzarin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014505:Urban Population