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9th Annual Conference Of The British HIV Association [BHIVA]24 – 26 April 2003, University of Manchester
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[AUTHOR(S):] T Chadborn, S Dingley, D Morgan, BG Evans
Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, London, UK
BHIVA Conf 2003 Apr 24-26;9:O28
AIMS: To describe differences and trends in CD4 cell counts of HIV infected adults in England and Wales.
METHODS: Adults, reported to the CD4 Surveillance Scheme from 60 laboratories, were matched to the UK database of diagnosed HIV infections and AIDS cases. This confirmed their HIV-positive status and provided a date of HIV diagnosis, ethnicity and probable HIV-risk group.
RESULTS: 15,284 individuals had a CD4 count within 6 months of the date of HIV diagnosis and one of these exposure categories: men who have sex with men (MSM), injecting drug users (IDU), heterosexual sex. Over a third of HIV-positive individuals were diagnosed with CD4 counts <200 cells/µl. Heterosexuals were diagnosed at lower CD4 counts (median 230 cells/µl, 95% confidence interval 220–231) than MSM (310, 307–320) and IDUs (300, 280-320). The median CD4 counts of black African heterosexuals at diagnosis were also lower than in white heterosexuals. Median CD4 counts at diagnosis in MSM averaged 308 cells/µl between 1990 and 1996 but increased to 370 in 2001. Updated results will be presented including 2002 data.
CONCLUSIONS: Many adults are still diagnosed with CD4 levels at which the initiation of HAART is associated with reduced survival. Monitoring CD4 counts will help to assess the goals of the Sexual Health Strategy.
PRESENTING AUTHOR: T Chadborn
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Copyright © 2003 - British HIV Association (BHIVA) Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the BHIVA Organising Secretariat 1 Mountview Court, 310 Friern Barnet Lane, London N20 0LD