5th International AIDS Conference Montreal, Quebec, Canada — Jun 4-9, 1989

Int Conf AIDS 1989 Jun 4-9; 5:164 (abstract no. A.521)
Modesitt S, Jui J, Stevens P, Hulman S, Shriver J, Fleming D; Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, Oregon, USA

OBJECTIVES: To determine prevalence of HIV antibody in a citywide population of patients seeking emergency room (ER) care.

METHODS: Seven hospital-based emergency rooms providing 90% of Portland's emergency services collaborated to simultaneously measure HIV seroprevalence in their combined patient population. During two 48-hour periods in the summer of 1988, all bloods drawn from patients for other purposes were tested for HIV antibody after personal identifiers had been removed. Specimens were also screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and core antibody (HBc). Demographic and risk factor information as obtained by routine ER practice was linked with test results.

RESULTS: Blood from 444 patients was tested. Patients' residences were evenly distributed throughout the metropolitan area. The largest proportion of patients were in the 20 to 30 year age group (24%) year age group (38%) and in the 60 and over group (38%). Twenty-one patients (0.5%) were identified as intravenous drug users. No males were identified as being homosexual. Seven percent of patients had experienced trauma. Invasive procedures were performed on 34% of patients. Only 2 patients (0.45%, 95% CI +/- 62%) tested HIV positive. One of these patients was already known to be HIV positive. Three of 444 (0.68%, 95% CI +/- 76%) patients were HBsAg positive and 55 of 444 (12%) were HBc positive.

CONCLUSION: The rate (0.45%) of HIV seropositivity in this city-wide cohort was low and approximated the rate of HBsAg seropositivity (0.68%). In contrast, the prevalence of HBc (12%) indicates a substantial proportion of this population may be at risk for future HIV infection. This method of population sampling may provide a simple way to estimate HIV infection rates in a general population.

890604
A521

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