Researchers call for national strategy to fight HIV/AIDS

published on September 6, 2013

B.C.'s Treatment as Prevention strategy significantly decreases rates of new HIV infections compared to other Canadian regions

Vancouver, B.C. [September 5, 2013] — New HIV diagnoses in British Columbia continue to decline at a rate faster than other Canadian regions, suggesting the made-in-B.C. Treatment as Prevention strategy implemented in the province should be adopted across the country.

In an article published in this September's issue of HIV Medicine, researchers from the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) analyzed Health Canada data from 1995 to 2011 finding that B.C., of all Canadian jurisdictions, has had the largest decline in the rate of HIV new diagnoses and in lifetime costs averted. The authors called for further efforts to implement B.C.'s successful Treatment as Prevention strategy across Canada.

"The consistent and sustained decrease in new HIV diagnoses in British Columbia reinforces Treatment as Prevention as a highly effective approach in the fight against HIV/AIDS," said Dr. Julio Montaner, senior author and director of the BC-CfE. "The evidence should now be absolutely clear: Treatment as Prevention is the best way to achieve an HIV and AIDS-free generation. It's time for Canada's leaders to emulate the government of B.C. and adopt this as the national strategy to stop HIV/AIDS."

B.C. is the only province to implement the Treatment as Prevention strategy, which calls for widespread free and facilitated access to HIV testing and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). As a result, B.C. has seen HIV-related morbidity and mortality decline by approximately 90 per cent since the early 1990s, and the number of new HIV diagnoses has fallen from approximately 800 per year prior to 1996 to 238 in 2012.

In Canada, there are an estimated 71,300 individuals with HIV. While annual rates of new HIV diagnoses declined slightly in Ontario, Quebec, and the Atlantic provinces, B.C. demonstrated the greatest and most significant decline, from 18.05 to 6.49 per 100,000 population. In comparison, rates in Saskatchewan increased from 2.76 to 16.17 per 100,000 population and in Manitoba they increased from 4.52 to 6.53 per 100,000 population. Rates in Alberta and in the Territories remained constant over the study period, demonstrating neither an increase nor a decrease in rates of HIV diagnoses.

Furthermore, it is estimated that B.C. has also averted $3.06 million per 100,000 population in lifetime costs for averted cases of HIV infection since 1996, compared to $1.38 million and $432,000, respectively, for Ontario and Quebec. In contrast, it is estimated Saskatchewan and Manitoba have incurred an additional cost of $2.06 million and $956,000 per 100 000 population, respectively, for the increase in new cases since 1996.

"The evidence we reviewed really demonstrates that further efforts are needed to optimize the potential impact of Treatment as Prevention in the whole of Canada," said Dr. Robert Hogg, lead author, director of the Epidemiology and Population Health Program at the BC-CfE and professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University. "We should look at what has been accomplished in British Columbia and apply those lessons to other jurisdictions without further delay."

The World Health Organization and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) have adopted the Treatment as Prevention strategy, as have other jurisdictions throughout the world, including China. In addition, the U.S. has identified Treatment as Prevention as a key strategy to achieve an AIDS-free generation.

For a full copy of the letter "Rates of new infections in British Columbia continue to decline at a faster rate than in other Canadian regions," please click HERE.

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About the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS
The BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) is Canada's largest HIV/AIDS research, treatment and education facility and is internationally recognized as an innovative world leader in combating HIV/AIDS and related diseases. BC-CfE is based at St. Paul's Hospital, Providence Health Care, a teaching hospital of the University of British Columbia. The BC-CfE works in close collaboration with key provincial stakeholders, including health authorities, health care providers, academics from other institutions, and the community to decrease the health burden of HIV and AIDS. By developing, monitoring and disseminating comprehensive research and treatment programs for HIV and related illnesses, the BC-CfE helps improve the health of British Columbians living with HIV.

About the University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia (UBC) is one of North America's largest public research and teaching institutions, and one of only two Canadian institutions consistently ranked among the world's 40 best universities. Surrounded by the beauty of the Canadian West, it is a place that inspires bold, new ways of thinking that have helped make it a national leader in areas as diverse as community service learning, sustainability and research commercialization. UBC offers more than 55,000 students a range of innovative programs and attracts $550 million per year in research funding from government, non-profit organizations and industry through 7,000 grants.

About Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University is Canada's top-ranked comprehensive university and one of the top 50 universities in the world under 50 years old. With campuses in Vancouver, Burnaby, and Surrey, B.C., SFU engages actively with the community in its research and teaching, delivers almost 150 programs to more than 30,000 students, and has more than 120,000 alumni in 130 countries.

For additional information or to request interviews, please contact:

Kevin Hollett
BC-CfE
Phone: 604-682-2344 ext. 66536
Mobile: 778-848-3420
Email: khollett@cfenet.ubc.ca

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Researchers call for national strategy to fight HIV/AIDS

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