Characteristics of recent HIV infection among individuals newly diagnosed as HIV-positive in South Korea (2008–2015)

Most HIV-positive individuals diagnosed in Korea are infected through sexual contact, with the time of HIV infection therefore often being unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of diagnosed patients near the time of HIV seroconversion to establish useful HIV intervention strategies. Cross-sectional study. Newly diagnosed HIV cases based on the national HIV surveillance system in South Korea, 2008–2015. To distinguish recent from long-standing HIV infection among 5898 nationwide HIV-positive specimens, limiting antigen avidity assays (Sedia HIV-1 LAg-Avidity EIA, cut-off = 1.5) were performed. Data on CD4+ T cell count at HIV diagnosis and death from AIDS within one year after first HIV diagnosis were used to distinguish recent HIV infections. Acute HIV infection is characterized by detectable HIV RNA or HIV p24 antigen levels, along with a negative or indeterminate antibody western blot result, but with the subject subsequently testing positive after a predetermined period. We analyzed the characteristics of recent and acute HIV infections by sex, age, nationality, HIV testing site, region, and reason for HIV testing. Recent and acute HIV infections were described as the proportion of recent and acute HIV infections among newly-diagnosed cases in a given year. Recent and acute HIV infections over the 8-year study period were 20.5% (1210/5898) and 9.5% (562/5898), respectively. Both infections were generally higher in the following groups: males, younger age, Koreans, individuals who were tested due to disease, residents of smaller city or rural area, and individuals diagnosed in recent calendar years. Acute infections were significantly higher among individuals tested in hospitals and due to suspected HIV infection. The recent and acute HIV infection in younger age groups (< 30 years) has been increasing in a given year. There was an increase in the proportion of young individuals with recent HIV infection, and we identified risk groups more at risk of HIV infection recently in Korea. Therefore, our results could prove useful for the development and assessment of national HIV prevention strategies in Korea and provide valuable data for further HIV research.