Janne Jensen

Late presenters, repeated testing, and missed opportunities in a Danish nationwide HIV cohort

Abstract Background: We aimed to estimate the incidence and predictors of late presentation among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals in Denmark. Methods: Incidence rates (IR) of presentation with advanced HIV (CD4 < 200 cells/μl and/or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)) and late presentation (CD4 < 350 cells/μl and/or AIDS) were calculated per 100,000 population aged 16–60 y. Mortality rate ratios (MRR) were estimated using Poisson regression analysis. Results: Three thousand and twenty-seven individuals were diagnosed with HIV in 1995–2009; 34.7% presented with advanced HIV and 51.2% were late presenters. The IR of HIV was stable (6.2/100,000 population), but IR of presentation with advanced HIV declined during the study period from 2.2 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.8–2.8) to 1.1 (95% CI 0.8–1.5). Age >50 y, heterosexuals of non-Danish origin, ‘other’ route of transmission, and diagnosis before 2002 were associated with an increased risk of presenting with advanced HIV, whereas a negative HIV test prior to diagnosis was associated with a significantly reduced risk. A total of 414 individuals (40.0%) had attended a hospital 1–3 y before presenting with advanced HIV. After 2002 the proportion of men who have sex with men with a negative HIV test prior to diagnosis increased (incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.3, 95% CI 1.1–1.6), coinciding with a reduction in IR of presentation with advanced HIV. Mortality rates were increased the first 2 y following presentation with advanced HIV (MRR 5.9, 95% CI 3.6–9.4 and MRR 2.5, 95% CI 1.4–4.1, respectively). Conclusion: In a setting with a low HIV prevalence, the rate of presentation with advanced HIV can potentially be reduced by repeated HIV testing of individuals with a continuous high risk of transmission and by adhering to guidelines for targeted HIV testing.

Impact of injecting drug use on mortality in Danish HIV-infected patients: a nation-wide population-based cohort study.

OBJECTIVES To estimate the impact of injecting drug use (IDU) on mortality in HIV-infected patients in the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) era. DESIGN Population-based, nation-wide prospective cohort study in Denmark (the Danish HIV Cohort Study). METHODS A total of 4578 HIV-infected patients were followed from 1 January 1997 or date of HIV diagnosis. We calculated mortality rates stratified on IDU. One-, 5- and 10-year survival probabilities were estimated by Kaplan-Meier methods, and Cox regression analyses were used to estimate mortality rate ratios (MRR). RESULTS Of the patients, 484 (10.6%) were categorized as IDUs and 4094 (89.4%) as non-IDUs. IDUs were more likely to be women, Caucasian, hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infected and younger at baseline; 753 patients died during observation (206 IDUs and 547 non-IDUs). The estimated 10-year survival probabilities were 53.2% [95% confidence interval (CI): 48.1-58.3] in the IDU group and 82.1% (95% CI: 80.7-83.6) in the non-IDU group. IDU as route of HIV infection more than tripled the mortality in HIV-infected patients (MRR: 3.2; 95% CI: 2.7-3.8). Adjusting for potential confounders did not change this estimate substantially. The risk of HIV-related death was not increased in IDUs compared to non-IDUs (MRR 1.1; 95% CI 0.7-1.7). CONCLUSIONS Although Denmarks health care system is tax paid and antiretroviral therapy is provided free of charge, HIV-infected IDUs still suffer from substantially increased mortality in the HAART era. The increased risk of death seems to be non-HIV-related and is due probably to the well-known risk factors associated with intravenous drug abuse.

Molecular Phylogenetics of Transmitted Drug Resistance in Newly Diagnosed HIV Type 1 Individuals in Denmark, a Nation-Wide Study

Highly active antiretroviral treatment is compromised by viral resistance mutations. Transmitted drug resistance (TDR) is therefore monitored closely, but follow-up studies of these patients are limited. Virus from 1405 individuals diagnosed with HIV-1 in Denmark between 2001 and 2009 was analyzed for TDR, and molecular-epidemiological links and progression of the infection were described based on data from standardized questionnaires, the prospective Danish HIV Cohort Study, and by phylogenetic analysis. Eighty-five individuals were found to be infected with virus harboring mutations resulting in a prevalence of 6.1%, with no changes over time. The main resistance mutations were nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) mutation 215 revertants, as well as nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) mutation 103N/S and protease inhibitor (PI) mutations 90M and 85V. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed 12 transmission chains involving 37 TDR individuals. Of these 21 were also documented epidemiologically. The virus included in the transmission chain carried similar resistance mutations to the TDR index case, whereas controls chains from index cases without TDR were generally without resistance mutations. We observed no difference in progression of the infection between individuals infected with TDR and individuals infected with wild-type HIV-1. The prevalence of TDR is low in Denmark and transmission of dual-drug-resistant HIV-1 is infrequent. The TDR isolates were shown to originate from local patients failing therapy.

HIV and risk of venous thromboembolism: a Danish nationwide population‐based cohort study

The association between HIV infection and the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is controversial. We examined the risk of VTE in HIV‐infected individuals compared with the general population and estimated the impact of low CD4 cell count, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and injecting drug use (IDU).

Female seafarers adopt the high risk lifestyle of male seafarers

OBJECTIVE: To study the mortality of women in an occupation known to have a high mortality among men. METHODS: A total of 6788 female seafarers of all job categories who had been employed on Danish merchant ships, passenger ships, and privately owned ferries between 1986 and 1993, were followed up until the end of 1993. RESULTS: Standardised mortality ratio (SMR) was 1.20 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.89 to 1.58) for all causes of death and job categories together. For women in traditionally male jobs, SMR was 2.82 (1.41-5.05), whereas galley and catering staff had SMRs close to the general female population. The high mortality among women in traditional male jobs could be explained by a high risk of fatal accidents including occupational accidents. In the whole cohort, there were fewer deaths from natural causes than expected but an excess risk of death due to lung cancer, heart diseases, and non-natural deaths. CONCLUSION: The increased mortality could primarily be explained by an excess risk of fatal accidents and suicide. Especially, female seafarers entering traditional male jobs had a high risk of fatal accidents, not only at sea but also ashore. An excess risk of dying of lung cancer and heart diseases probably reflects a high tobacco consumption. Female seafarers are probably influenced by their occupation towards hazardous behaviour and a high risk lifestyle but people with a high risk lifestyle may also be attracted by or forced into high risk jobs such as traditional male jobs at sea.

The Danish PEP Registry: Experience With the Use of Postexposure Prophylaxis (PEP) Following Sexual Exposure to HIV From 1998 to 2006

Background: Studies indicate that antiretroviral postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) after sexual exposure to HIV reduce the risk of infection considerably. Since 1998 PEP after sexual HIV exposure within the preceding 24 hours, has been available in Denmark. PEP can only be prescribed at clinical centers with specialists experienced in HIV treatment. The objective of this study is to describe the use of PEP after sexual exposure from 1998 to 2006. Methods: The Danish PEP registry collects data from all cases of PEP use in Denmark after exposure to HIV through a structured questionnaire. Results: There were 374 cases of PEP use after sexual exposure. The incidence increased from 5 cases in 1997 to 87 in 2006. PEP was used by heterosexuals (40%) as well as men who have sex with men (57%). The HIV-status of the source was unknown in 41% of the cases of which 90% involved a source belonging to a high risk group, and 63% involved exposure by receptive anal intercourse. PEP was administered within 24 hours in 95% of the cases and the median time to initiation (N = 225) was 11.0 hours (range 0.5–60.0). PEP was completed by 65%. Conclusions: This nationwide study showed a steady but moderate increase in the use of PEP after sexual HIV-exposure from 1998 to 2006. Time to initiation of PEP was low and the PEP prescription practice was targeted toward high risk exposures.

HIV infection among seafarers in Denmark.

The purpose of this study was to estimate the minimal magnitude of the HIV problem among seafarers in Denmark. The material is based on case records from the 6 medical departments in Denmark that undertake treatment of HIV patients. Retrospectively, all case records of HIV infection among seafarers--and of their sexual contacts--have been identified. 33 seafarers with HIV infection or AIDS were identified; 17 had no other known risk factor than heterosexual contacts in high-endemic areas. These results show that HIV infections have entered into the heterosexual group of seafarers. HIV-infected seafarers are a risk group for carrying HIV infection into the heterosexual population in non-endemic areas. In 5 known cases, this has actually taken place in Denmark. The majority of the heterosexually infected seafarers were probably infected early in the AIDS era. We do not know if Danish seafarers are still acquiring HIV abroad.

Risk of Myocardial Infarction in Parents of HIV-infected Individuals: a population-based Cohort Study

BackgroundPrevious studies have indicated an increased risk of myocardial infarction (MI) in HIV infected individuals especially after start of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). It is however controversial whether the increased risk of atherosclerotic disease is exclusively associated with the HIV disease and HAART or whether life-style related or genetic factors also increase the risk in this population. To establish whether the increased risk of myocardial infarction in HIV patients partly reflects an increased risk of MI in their families, we estimated the relative risk of MI in parents of HIV-infected individuals.MethodsFrom the Danish HIV Cohort Study and the Danish Civil Registration System we identified the parents of all HIV-infected patients born in Denmark after 1952 in whom a Danish born mother was identifiable. For each HIV patient, 4 matched population controls and their parents were identified. Cumulative incidence functions were constructed to illustrate time to first MI of the parents as registered in the Danish National Hospital Registry. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) were estimated by Coxs regression analyses. Due to the confidential type of the analysed data the study was approved by the Danish Data Protection Agency.Results2,269 mothers and 2,022 fathers of HIV patients as well as 9,076 mothers and 8,460 fathers of control subjects were identified. We observed an increased risk of MI in mothers of HIV patients (adjusted IRR, 1.31; 95% CI: 1.08-1.60). The strongest association was seen in case the offspring was infected heterosexually (adjusted IRR, 1.59; 95% CI: 1.07-2.35) or by IV drug abuse (IVD) (adjusted IRR, 1.63; 95% CI: 1.02-2.60). In fathers of HIV patients the risk of MI was only increased if the offspring was infected by IVD (adjusted IRR, 1.42; 95% CI: 1.01-2.00).ConclusionMothers of HIV-infected patients have an increased risk of MI. We presume that this stems from family related life style risk factors, some of which may also influence the risk of MI in HIV-infected patients.

Anal carcinoma in HIV-infected patients in the period 1995-2009: a Danish nationwide cohort study.

Abstract Background: Several studies have demonstrated an increased risk of non-AIDS cancers in HIV patients and, for some cancers, also in relatives of HIV patients. We aimed to estimate (1) the risk of anal carcinoma among HIV patients and their parents, and (2) the mortality after a diagnosis of anal carcinoma. Methods: We used Poisson regression to estimate the incidence rate ratios (IRR) of anal carcinoma in (1) a population of HIV patients identified from the Danish HIV Cohort Study (n = 4993) compared with a population control cohort matched on age and gender (n = 59,916) for the period 1995–2009, and (2) parents of HIV patients compared with parents of controls for the period 1978–2009. Cancer diagnoses were identified from The Danish Cancer Registry. We further estimated the mortality rate ratios (MRR) of HIV patients compared with controls after the diagnosis of anal carcinoma. Results: Thirty-six HIV patients versus 8 population controls were diagnosed with anal carcinoma. HIV patients had an increased risk of anal carcinoma (IRR 77.9, 95% CI 36.2–167.7), especially among men who have sex with men (MSM) (IRR 101.4, 95% CI 39.3–261.5). Fathers of HIV patients had an increased risk of anal carcinoma (IRR 7.4, 95% CI 1.4–38.3) compared to fathers of population controls. Mortality after diagnosis of anal carcinoma was increased in male HIV patients compared with the male control cohort (MRR 3.2, 95% CI 1.1–9.2). Conclusions: Danish HIV patients, especially MSM, have a considerably increased risk of anal carcinoma. We cannot exclude that fathers of HIV patients have an increased risk of anal carcinoma.

Mycoplasma salivarium isolated from brain abscesses

We report two cases of cerebral abscesses with polymicrobial aetiology including Mycoplasma salivarium. In both cases, Mycoplasma was found incidentally, suggesting that a broader aetiological spectrum could be found in brain abscesses by use of molecular techniques targeting fastidious pathogens.