title: [Delayed diagnosis of HIV infection in the Spanish VACH cohort [1997-2002]].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the prevalence of delayed diagnosis of HIV infection and associated factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional study of patients included in the Spanish VACH cohort who had been diagnosed with HIV infection between 1997 and 2002 was performed. Delayed diagnosis was defined as patients diagnosed with HIV infection and AIDS simultaneously or within the first month after the first positive serologic test, or those with a first CD4+ cell count below 200/ml. The epidemiological characteristics of these patients were compared with those of the remaining patients
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 2,820 new cases of HIV infection, delayed diagnosis was found in 506 (18%). These patients differed from the remaining patients in their lower mean age and higher HIV viral load, as well as in their distribution by sex (higher proportion of males), occupational status, history of incarceration in prison, and HIV-risk transmission group. The median survival during follow-up was significantly lower among AIDS patients with a delayed diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Delayed diagnosis remains a cause for concern in our environment, due to its magnitude and its association with mortality. Some epidemiological characteristics provide clues to guide future programs directed at increasing information and improving prevention.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital de Basurto, Bilbao, España. retira@hbas.osakidetza.net
authors.forename: Ramón
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Teira Cobo
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Suárez Lozano
authors.forename: Juan Miguel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Santamaría Jáuregui
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Terrón Pernía
authors.forename: Pere
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Domingo Pedrol
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: González García
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cosín Ochaita
authors.forename: Esteban
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ribera Pascuet
authors.forename: Trinitario
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: Bernardino
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Roca Villanueva
authors.forename: Pompeyo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Viciana Fernández
authors.forename: María Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: García Alcalde
authors.forename: Paloma
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Geijo Martínez
authors.forename: Pepa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Galindo Puerto
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vergara Campos
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lozano  de León Naranjo
authors.forename: Agustín
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muñoz Sánchez
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tebas
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011329:Prisoners; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D019562:Viral Load