Characteristics of patients diagnosed with AIDS shortly after first detection of HIV antibodies in Lyon University hospitals from 1985 to 2001

Department of Public Health,McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, CanadaSummaryA diagnosis of AIDS shortly after the detection of HIV antibodies suggests a long-lasting course ofthe disease without care. The factors associated with a short delay between the initial HIV-1-positivetest and the first AIDS-defining event were identified in 1901 patients from 1985 to 2001 in LyonUniversity hospitals. A total of 576 individuals (30.3%) had an interval of 3 months between thedetection of HIV infection and AIDS. The factors independently associated with a delay of 3months were: age from 30 to 44 years [odds ratio (OR) 2.5; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.9–3.2]; agefrom 45 to 59 years (OR 5.6; 95% CI 3.9–7.8); age 60 years (OR 4.5; 95% CI 2.5–8.1), compared tothoseo30 years old; heterosexuality (OR 2.4; 95% CI 1.6–3.4); injection drug use (OR 2.1; 95% CI1.5–2.7); and other exposures (OR 2.4; 95% CI 1.6–3.4), compared to homosexual exposure; twoopportunistic infections at AIDS (OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.4–2.4) compared to one; and Pneumocystiscarinii pneumonia as initial AIDS event (OR 2.6; 95% CI 1.8–3.7), compared to Kaposi’s sarcoma.These results provide opportunities to refocus local public health interventions to reduce delayedaccess to care.Received: 20 August 2003, accepted 19 January 2004