title: Epidemiological and clinical characteristics and behaviours of individuals with newly diagnosed HIV infection: a multicentre study in north Italy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We aimed to investigate socio-demographic, clinical and epidemiological characteristics and behaviours of subjects with new HIV diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out a multi-centre cross-sectional study comprising 17 infectious diseases units in the Lombardy Region, North Italy. All subjects with a first positive test for HIV infection examined in 2008-09 were interviewed using a structured questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  472 patients were enrolled (mean age 39.8 years, standard deviation [SD] 11.5), mostly males (78%), and born in Italy (77%). The most common routes of HIV transmission were heterosexual intercourse (49%) and sex among men who have sex with men (MSM) (40%). Never/sometimes use of a condom with occasional partners was associated with male gender, heterosexual transmission route, and with >10 sexual partners in their lifetime. 47% had previous HIV negative tests. Having had more than 2 previous HIV negative tests was associated with younger age, MSM transmission route, CD4+ lymphocyte count >350/microl and self-perception of risk.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that there is a large portion of the adult population, especially heterosexual men aged 45 years and over, who are at high risk of acquiring and transmitting HIV infection and undergoing the HIV diagnostic test late, due to risk behaviours combined with a low perception of being at risk. Compared to people infected by heterosexual contacts, MSM show a greater awareness of being at risk of infection, but this knowledge has a low impact in reducing at-risk behaviours.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Spedali Civili General Hospital, Brescia, Italy. s.casari@infettivibrescia.it
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Casari
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Suligoi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Camoni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pavan
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Macchi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Capelli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paraninfo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Compostella
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Castelli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carosi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Donato
mesh_terms: D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D020010:Heterosexuality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult