Decline in HIV-1 seroprevalence and low seroconversion rate among injecting drug users at a methadone maintenance program in New York City.
To monitor the trend of HIV-1 seroprevalence, 2,194 newly admitted injecting drug users (IDUs) in a methadone maintenance program in New York City were tested from June 1988 through June 1992. This was a blinded study and unlabeled blood specimens were collected during the required physical examination. There was a significant linear trend (p = .01) toward decline in HIV-1 seropositivity by year of admission as follows: 47.0% in 1988, 43.4% in 1989, 43.2% in 1990, 39.8% in 1991, and 39.1% in 1992. From January 1988 through December 1992, admissions data that included the newly admitted IDUs showed a significant decrease (p < .0002) in self-reported current needle sharing from 11.3% to 5.4%. These two data sources suggest that a continued decline in HIV-1 seroprevalence among new admissions may be related to decreased needle sharing. A volunteer cohort of 235 HIV-1 seronegative IDUs was also enrolled from April 1990 through June 1991 in a study of HIV-1 seroconversion. Follow-up data were available on 177 patients for up to 12 months. For a total observation time of 155 person-years, there were two conversions (1.3 conversions per 100 person-years). A continued decline in HIV-1 seroprevalence among new admissions and a low HIV-1 seroconversion rate among existing patients have contributed to a lower overall HIV-1 prevalence in clinic patients of about 40%. This stands in contrast to 1985-86 estimates of HIV-1 seroprevalence that plateaued at 60%.
Siddiqui
N S
NS
Division of Medical Services, Evaluation and Research, Addiction Research and Treatment Corporation, Brooklyn, New York 11201.
Brown
L S
LS
Meyer
T J
TJ
Gonzalez
V
V
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence / Q000639:trends; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D044465:White People
D008691:Methadone