Epidemiology

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is transmitted via infected blood products or sexual contact. It also may be transmitted via breast milk from an infected mother.

Global HIV statistics:

• 20.9 million were accessing antiretroviral therapy in June 2017
• 36.7 million (30.8-42.9 million) people globally were living with HIV in 2016
  • 34.5 million (28.8-40.2 million) adults
  • 17.8 million (15.4-20.3 million) women (15+years)
  • 2.1 million (1.7-2.6 million) children (<15 years)
• 1.8 million (1.6-2.1 million) people became newly infected with HIV in 2016
  • since 2010, new HIV infections amongst adults declined by an estimated 11% from 1.9 million (1.6-2.1 million) to 1.7 million 1.4-1.9 million) in 2016
  • new HIV infections amongst children declined by 47% since 2010, from 300,000 (230,000-370,000) in 2010 to 160,000 (100,000-220,000) in 2016.
• 1 million (830,000-1.2 million) people died from AIDS related illnesses in 2016
  • death due to AIDS related illnesses peaked in 2005 with 1.9 million (1.7-2.2 million)
• since the start of the HIV epidemic
  • 76.1 million (65.2-88 million) people have become infected with HIV
  • 35 million (28.9-41.5 million) people have died from AIDS related illnesses (1)

In the UK:

• prevalence is estimated to be 1.6 per 1,000 population, or 0.16%
• in 2015
  • an estimated 101,200 people were living with HIV
    • out of this 13,500 or 13% were unaware of their infection and at risk of passing on the virus to others
    • majority (69%) were men and 31% were women
  • a total of 88,769 people, including 315 children aged under 15, received HIV specialist care
    • 2006 to 2015, there has been a 73% increase in the number of people accessing HIV care.
  • 6085 people were diagnosed with HIV, which represents a new diagnosis rate of 11.4 per 100,000 people
    • London accounted for almost half (43%) of new HIV diagnoses while outside of London Midlands and East of England had the largest number of new diagnoses
  • number of new HIV diagnoses reported among gay/bisexual men steadily increased from 2,670 in 2006 to 3,360 in 2014 and has remained high in 2015 at 3,320
  • 1350 women and 1,010 men who probably acquired HIV through heterosexual contact were diagnosed
    • number of new diagnoses among heterosexuals has declined by almost half over the past decade from 4,340 in 2006 to 2,360 in 2015. This was due to fewer reports among African born men and women, which reflects changing migration patterns
    • black African men and women constituted 47% of new HIV diagnoses among heterosexuals. The figure has decreased from 73% in 2006, most likely due to changing migration patterns
  • people who injected drugs accounted for 3% of new diagnoses, a notable increase on the number diagnosed in recent years
  • 130 diagnoses were made among those who acquired their infection through mother-to-child transmission
  • over half of all people diagnosed with HIV (52%) were born in the UK compared to 38% of people diagnosed in 2006 (2)

Reference:

• (1) UNAIDS. Fact sheet – World AIDS day 2017. Global HIV statistics
• (2) Public Health England. HIV in the UK: 2016 report