GPs urged to send patients for HIV tests as Scots figures rise
The number of Scots infected with HIV has risen again this year, as experts say stigma around the disease is making GPs “apprehensive” about sending patients for testing.
Figures released yesterday by Health Protection Scotland revealed 428 new diagnoses of HIV last year, compared to an average of 408 over the previous five years.
Gay men are the most at-risk group, accounting for 177 cases. Of 213 heterosexuals who contracted the virus, nearly three-quarters were infected overseas, leading experts to attribute the rise in part to immigration from sub-Saharan Africa, where Aids has reached pandemic proportions. Another 17 cases were intravenous drug users, but sex remains the main way HIV is spread.
The figures come as politicians and campaigners mark World Aids Day. The increase in HIV diagnoses in Scotland – which bucks UK-wide trends – is in part attributed to an increase in testing.
There are 6500 people undergoing treatment for HIV in Scotland, but campaigners say another 1600 people carry the virus without realising it, endangering their health and that of sexual partners.
Doctors are concerned by the number of victims coming forward for treatment only once gravely ill after developing Aids.
“Nearly half of all newly diagnosed patients in Scotland have progressed beyond the ideal time for starting HIV treatment,” said Dr Andrew Winter, consultant in HIV medicine at the Sandyford Institute in Glasgow.
“Although treatment can be effective at any stage, HIV doctors see many patients presenting very late with Aids-related infections and cancers, when treatment may not be enough to overcome a serious opportunistic infection.”
HIV diagnoses in Scotland have tripled in the last decade. Catherine Murphy, head of public affairs at the Terrence Higgins Trust, the UK Aids charity, said this was due in part to migration of sub-Saharan African heterosexuals, who picked up the virus before moving to Scotland.
“Immigration has an impact and the global epidemic has an effect on other countries. We do not live in a bubble,” she said.
She said many people infected were unwilling to seek help because of stigma. “People don’t want to associate themselves with HIV. They don’t want to recognise the risk they have put themselves in.”
Ms Murphy said that many cases were going undiagnosed because GPs were apprehensive about offending suspected HIV carriers, and because people wrongly believes testing and treatment were arduous. “Some are just apprehensive about broaching the issue of sex,” she added.
Because gay men and Africans are most at risk, GPs fear “appearing homophobic or racist”, said Ms Murphy. “We still have quite high levels of people remaining undiagnosed. We are still seeing people dying in Scotland of HIV, which is entirely avoidable. Our main drive is for people to come forward for testing.”
Despite the rise in diagnoses, First Minister Alex Salmond said in a video message to mark World Aids Day that Scotland was making “good progress” under the Government’s HIV Action Plan for Scotland. “A great deal has been accomplished but many, many challenges remain,” he said.
Irish singer Bono and Elton John were also promoting the day.
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