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HIV
The changing epidemiology of prevalent diagnosed HIV infections in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, 1997 to 2003
  1. B D Rice,
  2. L J Payne,
  3. K Sinka,
  4. B Patel,
  5. B G Evans,
  6. V Delpech
  1. Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections, Colindale, London, UK
  1. Correspondence to:
 Brian Rice
 MSc, Department of HIV and STI, CDSC, Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections, 61 Colindale Avenue, Colindale, London NW9 5EQ, UK; brian.ricehpa.org.uk

Abstract

Objectives: To present the current epidemiology of prevalent diagnosed HIV infections in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (E, W, & NI) and describe trends over time.

Methods: Descriptive analyses of the annual national Survey of Prevalent HIV Infections Diagnosed (SOPHID) for the period 1997 to 2003.

Results: In 2003, 34 251 adults (15 years of age or over) were seen for HIV related care in E, W, & NI, representing a 17% increase in the prevalence of diagnosed HIV infections compared with 2002 and a 132% increase compared with 1997. Between 1997 and 2003, as a proportion of total prevalent cases, adults who acquired their infection through heterosexual sex increased from 26% to 49%; black African adults increased from 15% to 35% and diagnosed adults resident in London fell from 62% to 55% of the total. The male to female ratio declined from 5:1 to 2:1. The proportion of adults receiving combination antiretroviral therapy increased from 53% in 1998 to 64% in 2003.

Conclusion: There has been a large increase in the number of adults with diagnosed HIV infection seen for care in E, W, & NI since 1997. Changes in the epidemiology of prevalent diagnosed HIV were seen by sex, route of infection, ethnicity, level of antiretroviral therapy, and areas of residence and treatment. In 2003, for the first time, prevalent diagnosed infections acquired through heterosexual sex overtook those acquired through sex between men. These increases have serious implications for the planning and financing of HIV services in the United Kingdom.

  • ART, antiretroviral therapy
  • E, W, & NI, England, Wales, and Northern Ireland
  • GUM, genitourinary medicine
  • IDU, injecting drug use
  • NHS, National Health Service
  • ONS, Office for National Statistics
  • SBM, sex between men
  • SHA, strategic health authority
  • SOPHID, Survey of Prevalent HIV Infections Diagnosed
  • epidemiology
  • HIV

https://doi.org/10.1136/sti.2004.012070

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    Footnotes

    • National SOPHID survey: Funded by the Department of Health. London SOPHID survey: Funded by the NHS London Specialised Commissioning Group.

    • No conflict of interest to declare.

    • Statement: The Survey of Prevalent Diagnosed HIV Infections was established in 1995 as an annual cross sectional survey of all providers of statutory medical HIV related treatment and care in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Since 1995 it has monitored the annual caseload of patients by district of residence and the district where care was provided. The decision whether to forward data collected for the survey via a local survey facilitator or directly to CDSC rests with the clinician providing treatment and care for the HIV infected patients concerned.