Preliminary evaluation of the impact of a Web-based HIV testing programme in Abruzzo Region on the prevention of late HIV presentation and associated mortality.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to analyze the efficacy of a Web-based testing programme in terms of the prevention of late HIV presentation. The clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with HIV via the Web-based testing programme were compared to those of patients diagnosed in parallel via standard diagnostic care procedures.


METHODS
This study included the clinical and demographic data of newly diagnosed HIV patients enrolled at the study clinic between February 2014 and June 2017. These patients were diagnosed either via standard diagnostic procedures or as a result of the Web-based testing programme.


RESULTS
Eighty-eight new cases of HIV were consecutively enrolled; their mean age was 39.1±13.0 years. Fifty-nine patients (67%) were diagnosed through standard diagnostic procedures and 29 (33%) patients came from the Web-based testing programme. Late presentation (62% vs. 34%, p=0.01) and AIDS-defining conditions at presentation (13 vs. 1, p=0.02) were significantly more frequent in the standard care group than in the Web-based group; four of 13 patients with AIDS diagnosed under standard diagnostic procedures died, versus none in the Web-based testing group (p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Web-based recruitment for voluntary and free HIV testing helped to diagnose patients with less advanced HIV disease and no risk of death, from all at-risk groups, in comparison with standard care testing.
['Polilli|Ennio|E|', 'Sozio|Federica|F|', 'Di Stefano|Paola|P|', 'Clerico|Luigi|L|', 'Di Iorio|Giancarlo|G|', 'Parruti|Giustino|G|']
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis D000328:Adult D003625:Data Collection D005260:Female D015658:HIV Infections D015528:HIV Seroprevalence D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice D006801:Humans D020407:Internet D007558:Italy D008297:Male D008403:Mass Screening D008875:Middle Aged D015397:Program Evaluation D012307:Risk Factors
HIV Late presentation AIDS HIV diagnosis Sexually transmitted infections Voluntary and free testing