Iowa sees increase in new HIV diagnoses

There was a 27 percent increase in new HIV diagnoses last year, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health, but officials say that jump isn't anything to panic about.

The state's annual HIV Surveillance Report found there were 124 new HIV diagnoses last year, up from the 98 new cases reported in 2014.

Jerry Harms, the HIV/AIDS surveillance coordinator, said these numbers are similar to what the state saw in 2013, adding they fall within levels of variability.

The reason for the increase in diagnoses is unclear, Harms said, but he did point to the Affordable Care Act as one factor. Because 2014 was the first year of full implementation of the ACA, doctors may have tested fewer people as they dealt with an influx of new patients.

Therefore, by the time 2015 rolled around, providers may have been better prepared for the increase in patients, and were more likely to perform testing, he said.

The report showed that the largest decreases in 2014 and increases in 2015 occurred in private physician offices, hospital-based clinics and community health centers - compared with public test sites, correctional settings and blood banks.

Harms said officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate there are about 530 people in Iowa living with HIV but who are undiagnosed, so it's also likely this increase in testing on individuals new to health insurance captured some of that population.

Overall, Iowa has much lower HIV diagnosis rates than the Midwest and nation, Harms said.

l Iowa's rate is 80 per 100,000 people.

l The Midwest rate is 165 per 100,000 people.

l The national rate is 295 per 100,000 people.

Harms said public health department staff contact Iowans diagnosed with HIV to give them education, information about care services and help notify partners. The state works hard to get those individuals into care and keep them there, he said.

Studies have shown viral suppression improves individual health outcomes and may reduce the likelihood of transmitting HIV by up to 96 percent. Of the 2,367 diagnosed people - in and out of care - in Iowa, 76 percent were virally suppressed. Nationally, an estimated 42 percent of people diagnosed with HIV - in and out of care - had attained viral suppression.

IDPH is currently creating Iowa's 2017-2021 Comprehensive HIV Plan, which is to be released this September.

l Comments: (319) 398-8331; chelsea.keenan@thegazette.com