Patterns and trends in clinically recognized HIV seroconversions among all newly diagnosed HIV-infected homo-/bisexual men in Denmark, 1991–1994

Abstract

To analyse patterns and trends in recently acquired HIV infections among newly diagnosed homo-/bisexual men. All newly diagnosed HIV-positive homo-/bisexual men reported to the mandatory national HIV reporting system in Denmark in 1991-1994. A total of 495 homo-/bisexual men were diagnosed with HIV infection for the first time; 45% had previously been tested HIV-negative, among whom 68% were known to have seroconverted 4 years or less prior to the positive diagnosis. Both proportions increased significantly from 1991 to 1994. Among men previously tested negative, the median interval between last negative and first positive HIV test was 902 days (range, 14-4459 days); 21.3% had seroconverted within 1 year and 55.1% within 3 years. Men previously tested negative were significantly younger than men never tested. Sex with a known HIV-positive partner was associated with having had a previous negative test and with being young. Half of the men had HIV-associated symptoms when diagnosed with HIV. Using a logistic regression model the following variables were associated with being a clinically recognized recent seroconverter: young age, no HIV-associated symptoms when diagnosed as HIV-infected, and ever having sex with an HIV-infected man. An increasing proportion of homo-/bisexual men diagnosed with HIV in Denmark in the early 1990s had had a negative HIV test 4 years or less before being diagnosed as HIV-positive. These men were younger and had HIV-associated symptoms less often than men not previously tested. The national HIV reporting system provides valuable information for planning primary HIV prevention programmes.