European hospitals ‘regularly overlooking people with HIV infections’

Cases of HIV are being overlooked with regularity at European hospitals, according to a new study.

Conducted by the University of Copenhagen, the research assessed 23 hospitals from all over Europe and revealed that HIV tests are offered only sporadically. In Eastern Europe, 99 percent of relevant patients were offered a test, compared to only 44 percent in Northern Europe.

The study examined approximately 7,000 patients who came into contact with the healthcare system because they suffer from one of six diseases that could also indicate an HIV infection – tuberculosis, hepatitis and certain types of cancer, as well as oesophageal thrush.

Overall, only three out of four patients were offered an HIV test, with people with oesophageal thrush and non-Hodgkin lymphoma shown to be particularly unlikely to be tested.

Professor Jens Lundgren from the department of infectious diseases at Rigshospitalet and Copenhagen University said: "When we fail to diagnose those living with HIV in time, they suffer more complications, their life expectancy is shortened and there is a greater risk that they may have transmitted the virus to others."