Development of an HIV clinical cohort database for enhancing epidemiologic surveillance in Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong HIV Cohort Database is an observational cohort including all patients enrolled in 2 HIV specialist clinical services in Hong Kong. Basic demographics, HIV transmission category, and the diagnoses of AIDS were captured using a standardized template. As of December 2006, 2132 HIV cases had been registered in the database, representing two thirds of all reports submitted to the government's surveillance system. Non-Chinese and young females≤24 years were less represented in the cohort. Description of cohort cases was, however, more complete in terms of transmission category and presentation with AIDS-defining illnesses. Overall, Pneumocystis jirovecci, tuberculosis, and systemic mycosis accounted for a majority of AIDS cases within 3 months of HIV diagnosis. There was a gradual rise of HIV positive men having sex with men in the cohort, notably after 2002, an observation also made in other Asian countries.
Lee
Shui Shan
SS
Stanley Ho Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Department of Microbiology, 2/F School of Public Health, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong. sslee.ss@gmail.com
Lee
Krystal Chi Kei
KC
Lee
Man Po
MP
Tse
Ian Chi Tat
IC
Mak
Wai Lai
WL
Li
Patrick Chung Ki
PC
Wong
Ka Hing
KH
Sung
Joseph Jao Yiu
JJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult