Delayed <scp>HIV</scp> diagnosis during the <scp>COVID</scp>‐19 pandemic in Poland: A call for targeted <scp>HIV</scp> testing for those under suspicion of <scp>SARS‐CoV</scp>‐2

Suchacz, Magdalena; Krankowska, Dagny; Cybula, Aneta; Kamerys, Juliusz; Jabłonowska, Elżbieta; Rozpłochowski, Błażej; Bociąga‐Jasik, Monika; Wiercińska‐Drapało, Alicja

doi:10.1111/hiv.13437

Cited by 9 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…During the COVID-19 pandemic, some patients hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2 infection in Poland were additionally diagnosed for other infections, including HIV infections, thanks to this, some people managed to detect HIV infection, but unfortunately already at a very late stage of the disease (14). However, this allows us to emphasize how important is HIV testing in medical care, especially in the case of diseases related to HIV/AIDS (15)(16)(17).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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HIV infections and AIDS cases in Poland in 2021 year

Niedźwiedzka-Stadnik,

Nowakowska-Radziwonka,

Kolenda

et al. 2024

Przegl Epidemiol

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BackgroundDespite a temporary decrease in the number of newly HIV infections in Poland in 2020, a return to the growing number of new infections was observed in 2021 in the surveillance.ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to assess the epidemiological situation of newly HIV infections and AIDS cases and death among AIDS cases in Poland in 2021 in comparison to the changes in preceding years.Material and methodsAnalysis of the epidemiological situation was based on reports of newly detected HIV cases and AIDS cases received from doctors and laboratories and the results of the annual survey of HIV testing conducted by laboratories throughout the country. A dataset on clients from Voluntary Testing and Counselling, coordinated by the National AIDS Center, which anonymously collects epidemiological and behaviour data on tested people was used.ResultsIn 2021 there were 1 367 HIV cases newly diagnosed in Poland (diagnosis rate 3.58 per 100,000), including 236 among non-Polish citizens. The number of HIV infections increased by 43.3% compared to the previous year and was higher by 3.8% compared to the median in 2015-2019 years. Similarly, among VCT clients, number of HIV increased by 45%, from 309 in 2020 to 448 in 2021 year. The total number of AIDS cases reported to surveillance was 62 (incidence 0.16 per 100,000). The HIV infection was most often detected in the age group 30-39 year (35.8%) and among men (82.1%). Among cases with known transmission route, 68.7% concerned among MSM. The percentage of AIDS cases diagnosed at the same time with HIV increased by more than 30 percent points (from 63.5% to 95.1% of all AIDS cases).ConclusionsIn 2021 the number of newly detected HIV infections increased compared to the previous year, probably due to a reduction in restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic and increased in HIV testing rate.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Należy więc ponownie podkreślić jak istotne jest testowanie w kierunku HIV w opiece medycznej, zwłaszcza w przypadku chorób, które związane są z HIV/AIDS (15)(16)(17).…”

Section: Discussionunclassified

HIV infections and AIDS cases in Poland in 2021 year

Niedźwiedzka-Stadnik,

Nowakowska-Radziwonka,

Kolenda

et al. 2024

Przegl Epidemiol

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“…Conversely, the pandemic may have also exacerbated missed opportunities for the early detection of HIV because symptoms of acute HIV infection (e.g., fever, fatigue, and sore throat) may have been mistakenly attributed to COVID-19 [ 43 , 44 ]. Indeed, physicians need to be aware of the risks and symptoms of acute HIV infection and include HIV testing in any person who presents with signs and symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, influenza, or other viral syndromes [ 45 , 46 ].…”

Section: Recent and Emerging Challenges For Late Hiv Diagnosis In Ger...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence, characteristics and challenges of late HIV diagnosis in Germany: an expert narrative review

Boesecke

Schellberg²,

Schneider

et al. 2023

Infection

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Purpose We aimed to review the landscape of late HIV diagnosis in Germany and discuss persisting and emerging barriers to earlier diagnosis alongside potential solutions. Methods We searched PubMed for studies informing the prevalence, trends, and factors associated with late HIV diagnosis in Germany. Author opinions were considered alongside relevant data. Results In Germany, older individuals, heterosexuals, and migrants living with HIV are more likely to be diagnosed late. The rate of late diagnosis in men who have sex with men (MSM), however, continues to decrease. Indicator conditions less often prompt HIV testing in women and non-MSM. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the absolute number of late diagnoses fell in Germany, but the overall proportion increased, probably reflecting lower HIV testing rates. The Ukraine war and subsequent influx of Ukrainians living with HIV may have substantially increased undiagnosed HIV cases in Germany. Improved indicator testing (based on unbiased assessments of patient risk) and universal testing could help reduce late diagnoses. In patients who receive a late HIV diagnosis, rapid treatment initiation with robust ART regimens, and management and prevention of opportunistic infections, are recommended owing to severely compromised immunity and increased risks of morbidity and mortality. Conclusion Joint efforts are needed to ensure that UNAIDS 95-95-95 2030 goals are met in Germany. These include greater political will, increased funding of education and testing campaigns (from government institutions and the pharmaceutical industry), continued education about HIV testing by HIV experts, and broad testing support for physicians not routinely involved in HIV care.

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“…This disruption could potentially increase HIV transmission risks as fewer individuals were able to maintain undetectable viral loads [1]. By the end of 2021, reports of a rise in late HIV diagnoses from 2020 to the end of 2021 [7,8] illustrated the long-lasting effect of the pandemic on public health.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How the COVID-19 pandemic and the health system's response reduced HIV testing and increased late diagnoses in Mexico

Macías-González,

Vermandere,

Piñeirúa-Menendez

et al. 2024

Aids

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Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the disruption in HIV screening and diagnoses due to the COVID-19 pandemic and to investigate the pandemic's subsequent influence on the HIV epidemic. Design: A retrospective examination of testing and confirmed diagnoses time series was undertaken from 2011 to 2022. The analysis encompassed testing, positive tests, positivity rates, and diagnosis outcomes, including new HIV diagnoses, asymptomatic HIV diagnoses, and symptomatic HIV diagnoses. Methods: We used Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) models to estimate the COVID-19 epidemic's impact on screening and diagnosis outcomes. We gauged the pandemic's effect between January 2020 and December 2022 by comparing modeled predicted results with actual outcomes. Results: The advent of COVID-19 prompted a reduction of 50.7% in HIV testing, followed by a monthly escalation in testing afterward, estimated at 30.2% and 65.1% for 2021 and 2022, respectively. While new diagnoses reported between 2020 and 2022 gradually increased to pre-pandemic levels, we estimate a gap of 13,207 new diagnoses, with symptomatic detections increasing more than proportionally in 2021 and 2022. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in missed HIV diagnoses and a rise in late HIV diagnoses. Implementing tailored post-COVID-19 strategies to accelerate timely HIV testing and prevention is needed to avert additional burdens and remain on track toward achieving the 2030 HIV management goals.

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Delayed HIV diagnosis during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Poland: A call for targeted HIV testing for those under suspicion of SARS‐CoV‐2

Cited by 9 publications

References 20 publications

HIV infections and AIDS cases in Poland in 2021 year

HIV infections and AIDS cases in Poland in 2021 year

Prevalence, characteristics and challenges of late HIV diagnosis in Germany: an expert narrative review

How the COVID-19 pandemic and the health system's response reduced HIV testing and increased late diagnoses in Mexico

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