title: Characteristics of HIV infected individuals traveling abroad. Results from the +REDIVI Collaborative Network.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The improvement in the prognosis of HIV infection, coupled with the increase in international travel and migration, has led to a rising number of HIV infected travelers. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiological and clinical features of returning travelers, according to their HIV status.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational prospective study was conducted including travelers and immigrants who traveled to visit friends and relatives (VFRs) registered in the +REDIVI collaborative network (January-2009; October-2014). +REDIVI is a national network that registers information regarding infections imported by travelers and immigrants at 21 different centers using a standardized protocol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 3464 travellers were identified: 72 were HIV+ (2.1%) and 3.392 HIV- (98%). HIV+ vs. HIV- travelers were often older (40.5y vs. 34.2y P=.001), VFRs (79.1% vs. 44.4%; P<.001), and consulted less for pre-travel advice (27% vs. 37%; P=.078). The main destinations for both groups were sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. The most frequent reasons for consultation after travel were fever, request for a health examination, gastrointestinal complaints, and abnormal laboratory tests (mainly eosinophilia and anemia), which differed between groups. The most frequent diagnoses in HIV+ travelers were malaria (38.8%), newly diagnosed HIV infection (25%), and intestinal parasites (19.4%), while for HIV- travelers the main diagnoses were "healthy" (17.9%), malaria (14%), and intestinal parasites (17.3%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The typical profile of an HIV+ traveler in +REDIVI was that of a VFR traveler who did not seek pre-travel advice and made high-risk trips. This may increase the chance of acquiring travel-related infections which may pose a special risk for HIV-infected travelers. The post-travel visit was a good opportunity for HIV infection screening.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Ramon y Cajal, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: jose.perezmolina@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jose A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Pérez-Molina
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Ramon y Cajal, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martinez-Perez
authors.affiliation: Unitat de Salut Internacional Drassanes, PROSICS, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Serre
authors.affiliation: Unitat de Salut Internacional Drassanes, PROSICS, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Begoña
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Treviño
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario de Fuenlabrada, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: José Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Giardín
authors.affiliation: Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Torrús
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Cruces de Barakaldo, Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: Josune
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goikoetxea
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Spain.
authors.forename: Esteban Martín
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Echevarría
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Infanta Sofía, San Sebastián de los Reyes, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Malmierca
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Príncipe de Asturias, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rojo
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario La Fe de Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Calabuig
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Virgen de La Macarena de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain.
authors.forename: Belén
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gutierrez
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Ramon y Cajal, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Norman
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Ramon y Cajal, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Rogelio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lopez-Velez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012042:Registries; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014195:Travel
keywords: AIDS; Epidemiology; Epidemiología; HIV; Sida; Travelers; VFR; VIH; Viajeros