Prevalence of Primary HIV Infection in Symptomatic Ambulatory Patients
Ann Fam Med Coco and Kleinhans
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The Article in Brief
Cost-Effectiveness of Expanded Testing for Primary HIV Infection
By Andrew Coco, MD
Background:
Primary HIV infection, which has flu-like symptoms, can be difficult to diagnose. This study looked at whether widespread testing for primary HIV infection would be cost-effective.
What this study found:
In a group of 2 million hypothetical patients with fever, other viral symptoms and at least one HIV risk factor, expanded testing would identify 17,054 cases and avoid infection in 435 sexual partners. Based on a cost-effectiveness analysis, expanded testing for primary HIV infection has a high probability of being cost-effective.
Implications
• The findings suggests that widespread testing for primary HIV infection in patients with fever or other viral symptoms could be cost-effective.
• The authors believe that large-scale testing would be similar to screening for diseases such as colon cancer and breast cancer in its cost-effectiveness, and could help reduce the rate of HIV in the United States.
