What question did this study set out to answer?

The study aims to identify missed opportunities for HIV diagnosis and their impact on survival outcomes in individuals with advanced HIV disease.

March 18, 2026VirusesOpen Access

The Forgotten Test: Missed Opportunities for HIV Diagnosis and Survival Outcomes in Advanced HIV Disease

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Multicenter cohort study reveals missed HIV tests in advanced HIV disease, suggesting urgent need for better screening.

The study aims to identify missed opportunities for HIV diagnosis and their impact on survival outcomes in individuals with advanced HIV disease.
Conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study in four Italian infectious disease units.
Included antiretroviral-naive individuals presenting with advanced HIV disease (CD4 < 200 cells/µL or AIDS).
Collected demographic, clinical, and viro-immunological data at baseline and follow-up.
Used structured interviews to gather information on healthcare contacts and prior HIV testing.
Of 658 newly diagnosed participants, 224 (34%) had advanced HIV disease; 54% of these had AIDS.
86.2% had never been tested for HIV prior to diagnosis.
29.3% accessed healthcare for symptoms suggestive of HIV in the year before diagnosis without being tested.
At one year, 84.2% achieved virological suppression with a median CD4 count of 260 cells/µL.
Five-year survival was higher in non-AIDS presenters compared to AIDS presenters (100% vs. 85%, p = 0.005).

Narducci et al. (2026) studied this question.

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