The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #71362

Susan E. Manning, MD¹, C. Ramaswamy, MBBS, MPH², L. Jones, MPH², S. Ly², S. Forlenza, MD, MPH², M. Katyal, MPH², Y. Bennani, MPH², R. Quintyne, MS², D. Figueroa², J. Sackoff, PhD², L. Torian, PhD², Richard Dicker, MD MSc³, and D. Nash, PhD, MPH². (1) HIV Epidemiology and Surveillance Program, EIS Officer CDC, EPO, DAPHT, State Branch, NYC DOHMH, 346 Broadway, Room 706, New York, NY 10013, 212-442-3511, smanning@health.nyc.gov, (2) HIV Epidemiology and Surveillance Program, NYC DOHMH, 346 Broadway, Room 706, New York, NY 10013, (3) EPO, State Branch, CDC, Massachusetts State Health Department, Division of Epidemiology and Immunizations, 305 South Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130-3597

Background: Epidemiologic surveillance data on new HIV diagnoses capture aspects of HIV transmission that cannot be ascertained by tracking AIDS cases alone. To supplement AIDS case-reporting, regulations were implemented in New York in June 2000 mandating that health care providers and laboratories report newly diagnosed cases of HIV infection (non-AIDS). Methods: HIV cases diagnosed during January¯December 2001 and reported to the surveillance system through December 31, 2002 were analyzed. Rates and rate ratios (RR) were calculated using 2000 census data. Odds ratios (OR) compare persons diagnosed concurrently with HIV and AIDS to those diagnosed with HIV only (non-AIDS). Results: Between January and December 2001, 6,779 persons in NYC (85/100,000) were diagnosed with HIV. Of these, 4,414 (65%) were male and 2,365 (35%) were female. The rate of new HIV diagnoses was significantly higher in blacks (RR=5.1, 95% confidence interval (CI)=5.0–5.3) and Hispanics (RR=2.6, 95%CI=2.5–2.7) versus whites. Among those newly diagnosed with HIV, 1,801 (27%) persons were concurrently diagnosed with AIDS. Concurrent HIV and AIDS diagnoses were more likely to occur among males versus females (OR=1.3, 95%CI=1.1–1.4), blacks (OR=1.3, 95%CI=1.1–1.5) and Asian-Pacific Islanders (OR=1.5, 95%CI=1.0–2.4) versus whites. Conclusions: Newly available HIV surveillance data in NYC indicate that persons diagnosed with HIV in 2001 are predominantly male and from racial and ethnic minorities. Subgroups concurrently diagnosed with HIV and AIDS should be targeted for testing and prevention strategies. An ongoing evaluation of the system will provide important information on the timeliness and completeness of these new surveillance data.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to:
• Recognize the importance of HIV surveillance data in capturing aspects of HIV transmission that cannot be ascertained by tracking AIDS cases alone.
• Describe subpopulations most affected by the HIV epidemic in New York City.
• Recognize the uses of HIV surveillance data in targeting HIV prevention, testing, and treatment resources.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Surveillance

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.