In the first ten months of 2024, 550 cases of HIV infection (5.3 per 100,000 population) were diagnosed and registered in the National HIV Registry, of which 425 (77.3%) were in men and 125 (22.7%) in women.
New HIV diagnoses per 100,000 population for this period were at similar levels to the corresponding period in 2023, (550 corresponding to 5.3 cases per 100,000 population), with the predominant age group being 30-39 years old, EODY said, on the occasion of the 1st of December, World AIDS Day.
According to the mandatory reporting system, until 31 October 2024, 21,199 cases of HIV infection (82% men) have been recorded in the National HIV Registry, of which 4,746 have developed AIDS and 3,574 have died. Within 2024, 11,329 people with HIV infection received antiretroviral therapy.
The highest rates of delayed diagnosis were among heterosexuals (62.5%), intravenous drug users (66.7%) and people aged 40-49 and 50+ years (60.3% and 68.6%, respectively), and the lowest among men who have sex with men (41.9%) and people aged 25-29 years (41.9%). In 2024, low completeness continues to be observed in parameters particularly important for epidemiological surveillance of HIV infection, such as CD4+ T-cell counts at diagnosis and possible mode of infection.
The most common mode of infection was sexual contact. Increased proportion of new diagnoses with undetermined mode of infection
Among the new cases, which occurred in the period 01/01/2024 - 31/10/2024, the most common mode of infection is sexual intercourse, mainly between men (30.5% of new diagnoses), while there was an increase of 20%, compared to 2023, in cases infected through the use of intravenous addictive substances. In 2024, two cases of vertical transmission were recorded in Greece, aged 15 and 22 years, who were infected at birth in a foreign country.
The proportion of new diagnoses with indeterminate mode of infection remains elevated (37.4% of new diagnoses), and exceeds the incidence of unprotected sexual intercourse among men. Regarding country of origin, 4 out of 10 cases with known nationality diagnosed in the country this year were of foreign nationality.
More than half of the cases (55%) recorded in the first quarter of 2024 were diagnosed late. The highest rates of delayed diagnosis were among heterosexual individuals (62.5%), intravenous drug users (66.7%) and people aged 40-49 and 50+ years (60.3% and 68.6%, respectively), and the lowest among men who have sex with men (41.9%) and people aged 25-29 years (41.9%).
Longitudinal data (January - October 2010-2024)
Since the beginning of the epidemic surveillance, the majority of new HIV diagnoses have been in people infected through male-to-male sexual contact, followed by heterosexual sexual contact. The exception is the period 2011-2013, during which there was a significant increase in cases infected through intravenous drug use.
In particular, in 2012, intravenous drug use was the most common (n=486), surpassing sexual intercourse among men (n=311). After 2013, there has been a gradual decrease in new HIV cases infected through intravenous drug use, but without approaching pre-epidemic levels of HIV in this population.
In 2024, incidents infected through the use of intravenous addictive substances increased by 20%, compared to 2023, and by 44.8%, compared to 2022.
In 2023 and 2024, there is a notable increase in HIV cases for which the mode of transmission has not been identified.
In 2024, HIV diagnoses by indeterminate mode of infection (n=206) exceeded those infected through sexual intercourse between men (n=168).
Over time, the proportion of new cases with indeterminate mode of infection did not exceed 21%. However, in 2023 and 2024 it reached 37.3% and 37.4%, respectively, making it difficult to draw firm conclusions regarding the distribution of the mode of infection in new diagnoses.
Throughout the course of the epidemic in our country, the majority of new HIV diagnoses have been in people of Greek nationality. In recent years, the absolute number of annual diagnoses of cases coming from foreign countries has been relatively stable, with small fluctuations.
In terms of the percentage of persons of foreign nationality out of all annual diagnoses with known nationality, over the last five years it ranges from 30% (in 2021) to 41% (in 2020).
Since 2017, the majority of new diagnoses of foreign nationality have been in people from sub-Saharan Africa, Central and Eastern Europe.
The age group with the most cases
An analysis of new diagnoses in the last 15 years by age group shows that the predominant age group at diagnosis is 30-39 years, followed by 40-49 and 50+ years. In recent years there has been an increase in the proportion of new diagnoses aged ≥ 50 years, which in 2023 surpassed those in the 40-49 age group, which over time have outnumbered those in the 40-49 age group. However, in 2024, there was a slight increase in the proportion of cases aged 30-39 years and a greater increase in that of 40-49 years and a decrease in the proportion of cases in the 50+ age group.
