No change in incidence and prevalence of HIV among intravenous drug users in Copenhagen from 1985 to 1990.
During the years 1984 to 1990, 1,029 intravenous drug users (IVDU), equalling approximately one-third of the estimated total IVDU population in the study area, attended the outpatient venereal disease clinic of Copenhagen for an HIV antibody test. Neglecting samples on HIV-positive persons after the first positive test, 665 IVDU were only tested once, whereas 364 IVDU had 613 tests performed after their first HIV antibody negative result. HIV prevalences calculated for each year showed that the prevalence of 20% in 1985 was significantly higher than those of the following years, varying between 9% and 12% without any statistical differences between these years or evidence of an increase or a decrease. HIV incidence was calculated from the results of the 364 IVDU with an initially negative HIV test, from whom 613 subsequent test results were available and of which 20 showed HIV antibodies. The total risk period was 837 years, and the overall incidence 2.4 per 100 person years without any difference between male and female IVDU, but with a tendency of a decreasing incidence with increasing age. The incidence rates per 100 person years were 2.82 in 1984-1987 and 2.38 in 1988-1990, which is not significantly different. A seroconversion rate of 2.42 (1.51-3.65) per 100 IVDU per year was calculated. With an estimated IVDU population of 3,000 persons in Copenhagen, the yearly number of new HIV infected IVDU can then be estimated to 72 persons (45-110), a figure that is 100% higher than that known from the anonymous national HIV reporting system.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
University of Copenhagen, Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Bispebjerg Hospital, Denmark.
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Worm
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Gottschau
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology
D015483:HIV Antibodies