AEGiS-15IAC: The Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS in the North West of England 1995

AEGiS-15IAC: The Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS in the North West of England 1995 - 2003.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

The Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS in the North West of England 1995 - 2003.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. C10347)

Downing J, Duckett A, Syed Q, Bellis MA
Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom

ISSUES: Since 1995, the North West HIV/AIDS Monitoring Unit at Liverpool John Moores University has been responsible for the collection, analysis and dissemination of data on individuals with HIV infection presenting in the North West of England for treatment and care. Data are obtained from over forty statutory treatment centres including genitourinary medicine, infectious disease and paediatric departments, and form part of the national dataset, the Survey of Prevalent Diagnosed HIV infections (SOPHID). Here we present the developments in HIV surveillance and the epidemiological trends in the North West of England from 1995 to 2003.

DESCRIPTION: This epidemiological study examines the age, sex, ethnicity, route of infection, stage of infection and level of antiretroviral therapy trends of HIV positive individuals receiving treatment in the North West of England. It examines the trends among the new cases of HIV/AIDS and the impact this has on the overall epidemiology of the disease in the North West of England.

LESSONS LEARNED: The HIV/AIDS epidemic shows no signs of abating in the North West of England and those infected via heterosexual sex currently represent the largest number of new cases. Longitudinal epidemiological data enables health care professionals to examine the changing patterns of disease, it also indicates the specific area and population where the changes occur, for example the shift from homosexual sex as the predominant route of infection to heterosexual sex in all areas barring those with the highest rates of homosexual males. This data also greatly improves attempts at predicting future outbreaks

RECOMMENDATIONS: This regional database hold longitudinal data that are unique in the UK and provides an important resource for health professionals for planning and service provision. This is an example of good practice that should be followed in other regions and/or countries.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Seropositivity, HIV Infections, Disease Outbreaks, England, Heterosexuality, Research, Health Planning, Communicable Diseases, Demography, Epidemiologic Studies, Male, Child, epidemiology

040711
C10347