title: Changes in HIV demographic patterns in a low prevalence population: no evidence of a shift towards men who have sex with men.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to examine the changes in HIV demographics over time in an exceptionally low prevalence population, with particular emphasis on men who have sex with men (MSM).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1292 newly diagnosed HIV-positive patients registered in the ACTHIV-IST Study Group database between 2000 and 2014 were included. The changes occurring over time in the characteristics of patients at the time of initial admission were examined retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A gradual increase in the total number of newly diagnosed patients was evident during the study period; however, it was not possible to show an increase in the proportion of MSM within the study population (p=0.63). There was a male predominance throughout the study (85% vs. 15%), with further increases in the proportion of males in recent years. The mean age was lower at the end of the study (p<0.05) and there was an increase in the number of unmarried patients (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sexual preference patterns of HIV patients in extremely low prevalence populations may be different, possibly due to an early phase of the epidemic. Nevertheless, MSM still represent a target subgroup for interventions, since they account for a substantial proportion of cases and a resurgent epidemic may be expected among this group in later phases of the epidemic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Goztepe Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: fatmasargin2002@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sargin
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Dilek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Haseki Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozlem Altuntas
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bilgul
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mete
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Alper
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gunduz
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Haseki Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hayat Kumbasar
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Karaosmanoglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mucahit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yemisen
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Goztepe Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Saadet
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yazici
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sibel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bolukcu
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bulent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Durdu
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Goztepe Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ebubekir
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Senates
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Resat
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ozaras
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ilyas
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dokmetas
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fehmi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tabak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Demographics; Epidemiology; HIV (human immunodeficiency virus); MSM (men who have sex with en)