Impact of COVID-19 on human immunodeficiencyvirus tests, new diagnoses, and healthcare visits in theRepublic of Korea: a retrospective study from 2016 to 2021
10.24171/j.phrp.2024.0123
- Author:
Yeonju KIM
1
;
Eonjoo PARK
;
Yoonhee JUNG
;
Koun KIM
;
Taeyoung KIM
;
Hwa Su KIM
Author Information
1. Veterans Medical Research Institute, Veterans Health Service Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:
Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives
2024;15(4):340-352
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Objectives:Public health workers have been at the forefront of treating patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and managing the pandemic. The redeployment of this workforce has limited or interrupted other public health services, including testing for humanimmunodeficiency virus (HIV). This study aims to examine the impact of COVID-19 on HIVtesting and diagnosis in the Republic of Korea from 2016 to 2021, comparing data before and after the onset of COVID-19.
Methods:Annual HIV testing data were collected from each institution through direct communication or from open-source databases. The annual number of new HIV cases was obtained from the official report of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. Data on healthcare visits for HIV diagnosis or treatment were extracted from the open-source database of the National Insurance Health Service of Korea. Interrupted time series regression was conducted, stratified by institution type.
Results:In 2020, HIV tests, diagnoses, and visits decreased. Notably, public health centers experienced a substantial reduction in 2020−2021 compared to previous years. The annual percentage change in HIV tests was −53.0%, while for HIV diagnoses, it was −31.6%. The decrease in visits for HIV was also most pronounced for public facilities: −33.3% in 2020 and −45.6% in 2021 relative to 2019.
Conclusion:The numbers of tests, diagnoses, and healthcare visits for HIV at public healthcenters in the Republic of Korea substantially decreased in 2020 and 2021. The impacts of thesechanges on the early diagnosis and treatment of HIV necessitate further monitoring.
