The Ministry of Health has shared the most recent data on the number of undiagnosed HIV infections in Spain. The study, in collaboration with the Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), estimates that the number of people who do not know that they have this virus has been reduced by almost half in the last four years, from 13% to 7.5%, which represents a drop of more than 42.3% .
This development puts the estimate of people diagnosed with HIV at 92.5%, and puts Spain “on the way to the 95% target set in the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations (UN), according to a statement from the Health Administration.
As reported in a report by ISCIII in coordination with the Ministry of Health, 92.5% of people affected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in our country know the diagnosis, 96.6% receive antiretroviral treatment and 90.4% have suppressed it. viral load
It is the decline in the undiagnosed fraction that exhibits the greatest evolution in this study. Currently, it is estimated that this rate will stand at 7.5% in the period 2021-2022, compared to an estimate of 13% in the period 2017-2019.
The UNAIDS program was established to end HIV infection as a public health problem to achieve that 90% of people have been diagnosed with this disease in the year 2020, that 90% of them are on antiretroviral treatment and that of these 90% have suppressed it. viral load This goal, called 90-90-90, is being extended to 95-95-95 on the horizon of 2030, as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
In this sense, the Ministry of Health reminds us that Spain is aligned with these global goals, which is why it periodically evaluates the progress observed in these three indicators.
The importance of early HIV diagnosis
Human immunodeficiency virus infection has no symptoms until the late stages, so that the person contracts the infection and does not know it. Early diagnosis is therefore important, so that those affected can receive antiretroviral treatment early, thus increasing their quality of life and contributing to cutting the transmission chain. Recalled by the Health Administration, conducting testing to detect HIV is the best way to reduce the undiagnosed fraction.
