Diagnosis and reporting of HIV and AIDS in states with integrated HIV and AIDS surveillance--United States, January 1994-June 1997

Abstract

Recent reports based on acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) surveillance data have highlighted substantial declines in AIDS incidence and deaths. As a result of improvements in treatment and care of persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), surveillance of AIDS alone no longer accurately reflects the magnitude or direction of the epidemic. Current public health and clinical recommendations promote early diagnosis and treatment of HIV disease. Data on persons in whom HIV infection is diagnosed before AIDS is diagnosed are needed to determine populations in need of prevention and treatment services. This report examines data for persons aged > or =13 years in whom HIV infection was diagnosed in 25 states that conducted name-based HIV surveillance in addition to AIDS surveillance during January 1994-June 1997. Provisional data indicate that declines in AIDS incidence in these states were not accompanied by comparable declines in the number of newly diagnosed HIV cases.