Reasons for late presentation to HIV care in Switzerland. Journal of the International AIDS Society
Hachfeld et al. aimed to assess the prevalence of late presentation to HIV care in Switzerland, and to identify related risk factors. Of 1366 patients enrolled in the SHCS, 680 (49.8%) were late presenters (LPs) and 347 (25.4%) had a CD4 count below 200 cells/µl. Compared to non-LPs, LPs were more likely to be male and heterosexual or female and to originate from sub-Saharan Africa or Asia. Late presentation was driven mainly by late HIV testing due to low risk perception and lack of awareness of HIV transmission, symptoms and treatment.
The study results underscore that primary care and specialist physicians need to increase HIV testing among their patients if earlier diagnosis and linkage to care are to be achieved.