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Nearly one-third was dying, 26% were followed but it was not known, 19% would have left the surveillance after the diagnosis and 20% would not have been identified. This is how the 12 000 cases of notifications are distributed to which the trace has been lost. The work of updating the data for the period from 1983 to 2016 began late last year after finding "a high number of patients whose cases of HIV infection had been reported in the past without death or evidence of follow-up in different hospitals. "
The report of the National Program to Fight HIV, AIDS and Tuberculosis, presented in Lisbon on Thursday, details for unidentified patients that" these are mainly cases reported at the beginning of the epidemic, when there were computerized clinical records, often at the AIDS stage and therefore with a very high probability of translating non-notified deaths. "
In addition to deaths now found, at 11.008 that were already known in 2016, it is concluded that this infection has already caused more than 14 thousand deaths in Portugal.
The specialist of infectious diseases department of the National Institute of Health Dr Ricardo Jorge, Helena Cortes Martins, responsible for data collection and processing, recalled during the presentation of the report that "the quality data is essential for infection. "
It is this work of revising figures that has achieved new values on diagnosed patients, those under treatment and their viral load. Data from which it is possible to know up to where Portugal must reach the three UNAIDS 90-90-90 objectives that establish the following: by 2020, 90% of infected people need to be diagnosed; of these, 90% must be on treatment and in this group 90% must have an undetectable viral load and can not infect others.
The first goal has already been exceeded. It is estimated that there are 38,959. Of these, 91.7% are diagnosed. The second goal is the only one in which Portugal is still far away. Of the total diagnosed, only 31 thousand are under treatment. But the study – and also Isabel Aldir, coordinator of the National Program to Fight HIV, AIDS and Tuberculosis – points out that it's 2016 data and still does not reflect the " paradigm shift "regarding the treatment of all.
Graça Freitas, Director General of Health, stressed that Portugal "is on the right track", but recalled that the incidence rate per 100 thousand (19659003) Late diagnoses are also a problem and the role of community organizations is "relevant", said Graça Freitas. As well as tests in community pharmacies, which should begin next month, and home tests which, according to the health minister, should be possible by the end of the year.
"We should be happy" with the results, said Masoud Dara. The World Health Organization (WHO) expert has shown that on average, the other countries of Central and Southern Europe have 85% of infected people knowing their HIV status. Of these, 76% are treated. And from the universe of people in treatment, 65% have an undetectable viral load.
886 new cases
In recent years, there has been "an undeniable downward trend in new cases of HIV infection". The drop is, according to Isabel Aldir, the decriminalization of drug use, needle exchange programs, condom distribution, treatment at the time of diagnosis and, more recently, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Until June 30, there were 50 people to follow the prophylactic treatment and 74 requests reserved.
But not everything is perfect. The number of cases diagnosed in 2017 is higher than that reported in the same report last year. There are 886 new infections when in 2016 841 were announced (values then revised to 1030 cases by WHO).
The report provides a rationale: "The increase in the number of new cases compared to the same period may reflect faster notifications and, on the other hand, has been placed in relation with the promotion of diagnosis. "
The profile of the newly infected remains more or less stable. Most remain male (71.4%) and heterosexual (60.6%). Women make up about one-third (28.6%) and gay men 36.9%. Late diagnoses still occur in 53.2% of the detected cases. And 142 new infections are already AIDS cases.
As for ages, there are 23.5% of diagnoses made between 15 and 29 years of age. In 47.1% of new diagnoses, patients are between 30 and 49 years old. The remaining 28.9% were detected in the over 50s.
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