title: Clinical and epidemiological features of HIV/AIDS infection among migrants at first access to healthcare services as compared to Italian patients in Italy: a retrospective multicentre study, 2000-2010.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Migrants account for approximately 8.7% of the resident population in Italy. The immigration status deeply influences access to prevention and care, thus contributing to increase the burden of HIV/AIDS among such a fragile category. The aim of this study was to investigate socio-demographic and baseline clinical and immunological features of HIV-infected migrants, as compared to Italians.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analysed data for all the 1,611 HIV-infected migrant patients and a random sample of 4,230 HIV-infected Italian patients aged 18 or older who first accessed nine Italian clinical centres in 2000-2010 and were followed up at least 1 year. Differences in baseline characteristics between migrants and Italians were evaluated in univariate analysis, while factors associated with late presentation were evaluated in multivariate analysis using logistic regression models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The baseline profile differs between the HIV-infected migrant and Italian patients, substantially reflecting what reported by current statistics in terms of gender, age, risk category as well as clinical features. Late presenters were more frequent among migrants as compared to Italians (53.0 vs 45.8%; adjusted odds ratio [(AOR) = 1.55, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.34-1.78]. Other factors associated with late presentation included increasing age, as well as undocumented legal status among foreign-born subjects (AOR = 1.41, 95% CI 0.97-2.04), though of borderline significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Late presentation still represents a relevant problem despite the advances in the management of HIV infection. More efforts are needed to allow early diagnosis and access to care among the most vulnerable, such as undocumented foreign-born subjects in a country where migration flows are on the rise.
authors: University Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia-Spedali Civili General Hospital, P.le Spedali Civili, 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Sulis
authors: I
authors: I
authors: El Hamad
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Fabiani
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Rusconi
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Maggiolo
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Guaraldi
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Bozzi
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Bernardini
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Lichtner
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Stentarelli
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Carenzi
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Francisci
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Saracino
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Castelli
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014171:Transients and Migrants; D055815:Young Adult