Trends of HIV seroconversion among young adults in the US army, 1985 to 1989

The prevalence of AIDS has been monitored since 1981, and the resulting information should help to predict the future course of this disease. However, the factors that determine infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS, have changed within the past 10 years. The condition of AIDS is the clinical end stage of HIV infection and serves as an endpoint in surveillance studies, or studies that monitor AIDS epidemiology. The temporal, or time-related, trend in the incidence of AIDS reflects the history of HIV infection. This approach does not provide sufficient information about new cases of HIV infection over the past two to three years, a period of changes in the HIV epidemic. Direct measurement of the incidence of HIV infection would provide more accurate information about the HIV epidemic. However, the incidence of HIV infection can only be indicated by repeated testing for HIV antibodies, or the presence in the blood of immune proteins specifically directed against HIV. The groups that undergo routine testing for HIV antibodies include blood donors and United States military personnel. The temporal trend and demographic features of HIV seroconversion, or appearance of HIV antibodies, were assessed in United States Army personnel between November 1985 and October 1989. The results showed that 429 of 718,780 soldiers showed evidence of HIV seroconversion. The rates of seroconversion decreased between November 1985 and October 1989. The risk of HIV seroconversion was associated with race or ethnicity, age, sex, and marital status. It is estimated that about 220 soldiers were infected with HIV during 1989 and 1990, and the rate of HIV infection will probably decrease in the future. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)