The Particulars: Accurate HIV diagnosis data have been lacking in the United States. This has made it challenging to examine long-term national trends in HIV diagnoses.
Data Breakdown: For a study, researchers examined national data on HIV infections that were diagnosed during 2002 to 2011 among patients aged 13 and older. During this timeframe, the overall rate of HIV diagnoses decreased 33.2%, dropping from 24.1 to 16.1 per 100,000 population. Rates dropped 27.1% for men and 49.2% for women during the study period. The rate of diagnoses decreased for all age groups, with the exception of those aged 13 to 24, among whom the rate increased 38.4% during the study period.
Take Home Pearls: The rate of HIV diagnoses appears to have decreased by more than 30% between 2002 and 2011. Rates appear to have decreased substantially more among women than men and increased among teens and young adults.
