[Elevated risk of HIV infection in homosexual men even after contact with the health system].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence of HIV seroconversion and to evaluate the characteristics associated with a greater risk of seroconversion in homosexual men in the period 2000-2003.


METHODS
We performed a dynamic cohort study of all homosexual men tested for HIV in 20 ambulatory care centers specialized in diagnosing HIV, located in 19 cities in Spain. The characteristics of the men were analyzed and the seroconversion incidence rate was calculated among those who were followed up.


RESULTS
In the period 2000-2003, a total of 10,189 persons-year of follow-up were accumulated and 167 seroconversions were diagnosed with a seroconversion incidence rate of 16.4 per 1,000 persons-year. Most of the seroconversions (63%) occurred in men younger than 30 years old. The seroconversion rate was higher among homosexual men from Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa than among Spanish men.


CONCLUSIONS
In Spain, the risk of HIV transmission among men who have sex with men is still high. Therefore, this population continues to be a high priority group in HIV prevention. A proportion of HIV diagnoses among immigrants concern infections acquired after their arrival to Spain, probably due to conditions of greater social vulnerability. Reinforcing and renewing prevention strategies directed at this population would be timely.
Centro Nacional de Epidemiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, España. alicia@isciii.es
Alicia
A
Barrasa
José Manuel
JM
Lorenzo
Luis María
LM
Sáez de Vicuña
Pilar
P
Saladié
Encarnación
E
Arellano
Guendane
G
Larrañaga
Esperanza
E
Castro
Araceli
A
Losas
María Angeles
MA
Neira
María Mar
MM
Cuesta
Antonia
A
Mendo
Jesús
J
Castilla
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors