EACS2023: 841 Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine on late diagnosis of HIV infection T. Koval , O. Marchenko , O. Stetsenko , L. Kalinichenko , O. Sabinina , A. Mischenko Poltava State Medical University, Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology, Poltava, Ukraine, Poltava Regional Infectious Hospital, Poltava, Ukraine, Poltava Regional TB Hospital, Poltava, Ukraine, Poltava Regional HIV/AIDS Center, Poltava, Ukraine General data Abstract category: Access and delivery of care Abstract body Purpose: Strong restrictions of COVID-19 pandemic and then start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022 cause significant disruptions in the provision of HIV testing and treatment programs in some regions. Many HIV-infected patients were displaced to other regions of Ukraine and abroad. We aimed to study the impact of the restrictions of COVID-19 pandemic and effects of the war on late diagnosis of HIV infection in Ukraine. Method: We analysed medical data of 747 newly diagnosed HIV-infected patients registered at the Poltava Regional HIV/AIDS Centre (Ukraine) from January 2019 to December 2022. Patients with a Nadir CD4 count <350 cells/ml and/or AIDS-defining illness were defined as late presenters. We compared data from two groups of patients - those who registered in 2019 (before COVID-19) (n=372) and those who were diagnosed after the onset of restrictions due to COVID-19 and the war and massive displacement of people in Ukraine (2020-2022) (n=375). Results: The number of new cases in clinic has significantly reduced from 372 cases in 2019 to 139 cases in 2020 after starting COVID-19 pandemic. The smallest number of HIV cases in the last 20 years was registered in 2022 (n=105) after the war started. We found no differences in the social and demographic characteristics of patients in both groups - 54.6% vs 56.5% were male with average age 42 vs 40 years, prevalence of heterosexual transmission - 71.8% vs 76.5% correspondingly. However, nadir CD4 count among patients who were diagnosed in 2020-2022 was significantly lower – 202 vs 293 cells/mm (p=0,035) and most patients were identified as late presenters of HIV (59.7% vs 42.2%) (p=0.05). Conclusions: Restrictions of COVID-19 epidemic, massive displacement of people and disrupted access to testing caused by active war in Ukraine have led to decline of HIV detection and growth in the number of late presenters. General conditions 1. I confirm that I previewed this abstract and that all information is correct. I accept that the content of this abstract cannot be modified or corrected after the submission deadline and I am aware that it will be published exactly as submitted.: Yes 2. I confirm that the submission of the abstract constitutes my consent to publication (e.g. conference website, programmes, other promotions, etc.). : Yes 3. I herewith confirm that the contact details saved in this system are those of the corresponding author, who will be notified about the status of the abstract. The corresponding author is responsible for informing the other authors about the status of the abstract.: Yes 4. I agree that all data provided may be used (saved, stored, processed, transmitted and deleted) in compliance with the privacy policy to provide the services described.: Yes 1 1 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 50 19TH EUROPEAN AIDS CONFERENCE | WARSAW 2023
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