Abstract
BackgroundThis study is the first to describe major epidemiological trends and clinical characteristics among Israeli men who have sex with men (MSM), who are at a higher risk for HIV infection.MethodsThis retrospective study includes all individuals reported to the Israeli Ministry of Health with HIV and self-identified as MSM between 1981 and 2015. The incidence rates of HIV infection and AIDS-defining diseases were analyzed and Kaplan-Meier survival estimates were calculated from time of HIV infection notification to AIDS diagnosis and death across three consecutive periods representing antiretroviral treatment availability.ResultsThe trend of increase in HIV incidence is similar to Western Europe, although Israeli rates are lower. Of 2052 HIV/AIDS Israeli MSM diagnosed during the follow-up, 296 (14.6%) developed AIDS. MSM constitute 28.4% of all HIV/AIDS cases and 41.5% of cases among men. Average times from HIV-notification until AIDS diagnosis were 15.5 [14.0–16.9], 16.0 [15.5–16.4], and 6.7 [6.7–6.8] years, within 1981–1996, 1997–2007, and 2008–2015, respectively. The HIV-incidence rate among Israeli MSM slightly declined from 2012, after peaking in 2011 at 6.2 per 100,000.ConclusionsThe recent reduction in HIV-incidence and in AIDS diagnoses among Israeli MSM is encouraging. Nevertheless, the disproportionate incidence of HIV among MSM requires sustained efforts to abate further infections.
Highlights
This study is the first to describe major epidemiological trends and clinical characteristics among Israeli men who have sex with men (MSM), who are at a higher risk for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection
The major risk categories in Israel are: 1) people living with HIV (PLWHIV) originating from country with Generalized HIV Epidemic (OGE); 2) Men who have sex with men (MSM); and 3) Intravenous Drug Users (IDU) [4,5,6]
The aim of this study is to describe HIV epidemiological trends and clinical characteristics of MSM living with HIV in Israel since the first report in 1981
Summary
This study is the first to describe major epidemiological trends and clinical characteristics among Israeli men who have sex with men (MSM), who are at a higher risk for HIV infection. The major risk categories in Israel are: 1) people living with HIV (PLWHIV) originating from country with Generalized HIV Epidemic (OGE); 2) Men who have sex with men (MSM); and 3) Intravenous Drug Users (IDU) [4,5,6]. The prevalence of these risk groups changes throughout the study period, most notably with mass. The aim of this study is to describe HIV epidemiological trends and clinical characteristics of MSM living with HIV in Israel since the first report in 1981
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