Prevalence of HIV infection among inpatients and outpatients in department of veterans affairs health care systems: Implications for screening programs for HIV

D.K. Owens, V. Sundaram, L.C. Lazzeroni, L.R. Douglass, G.D. Sanders, K. Taylor, R. VanGroningen, V.M. Shadle, V.C. McWhorter, T. Agoncillo, N. Haren, J. Nyland, P. Tempio, W. Khayr, D.J. Dietzen, P. Jensen, M.S. Simberkoff, S.A. Bozzette and M. Holodniy

American Journal of Public Health, 2007, vol. 97, issue 12, 2173-2178

Abstract: Objectives. We sought to determine the prevalence of HIV in both inpatient and outpatient settings in 6 Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care sites. Methods. We collected demographic data and data on comorbid conditions and then conducted blinded, anonymous HIV testing. We conducted a multivariate analysis to determine predictors of HIV infection. Results. We tested 4500 outpatient blood specimens and 4205 inpatient blood specimens; 326 (3.7%) patients tested positive for HIV. Inpatient HIV prevalence ranged from 1.2% to 6.9%; outpatient HIV prevalence ranged from 0.9% to 8.9%. Having a history of hepatitis B or C infection, a sexually transmitted disease, or pneumonia also predicted HIV infection. The prevalence of previously undocumented HIV infection varied from 0.1% to 2.8% among outpatients and from 0.0% to 1.7% among inpatients. Conclusions. The prevalence of undocumented HIV infection was sufficiently high for routine voluntary screening to be cost effective in each of the 6 sites we evaluated. Many VA health care systems should consider expanded routine voluntary HIV screening.

Date: 2007
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2007.110700_9

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2007.110700

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