AIDS cases in Ottawa: A review of simultaneous HIV and AIDS diagnoses.
Lauren Orser, Patrick O'Byrne, Dave Holmes
PMID 35305282WHAT IT FOUND
Most patients diagnosed with AIDS in Ottawa had never tested for HIV before, and many were White heterosexual men not in typical risk groups.
Nurses should consider HIV as a cause of chronic symptoms regardless of patient background.
Key findings
0171.6% of patients diagnosed with concurrent HIV and AIDS had no prior HIV testing history.
02Nearly one-quarter of AIDS diagnoses occurred in White heterosexual males, a group not typically prioritized for routine HIV screening.
03The most common symptoms leading to diagnosis were weight loss, fever, respiratory issues, and oral thrush.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study is limited to one Canadian city with free HIV testing, so results may not apply to areas with different healthcare access or demographics. Surveillance data did not capture treatment regimens, viral loads, or reasons why patients delayed testing, limiting the understanding of barriers to care. Few patients identified as transgender or Indigenous, so the findings do not reflect experiences in these groups. The study relies on chart reviews and self-reported risk factors, which may be subject to recall bias or incomplete documentation.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study was supported by non-U.S. government sources.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that patients outside traditional high-risk groups (such as White heterosexual men) are low-risk for HIV. This review found that nearly one-quarter of AIDS diagnoses occurred in this demographic, often because they had never been tested. Always consider HIV in the differential diagnosis for chronic symptoms, regardless of patient background.