HIV infections in men declined by about 12 percent in 2022 compared to 2018, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with the largest notable decline seen among the youngest age group. .
O data published in the CDC’s Supplemental HIV Surveillance Report found that there was a 12 percent decrease in HIV incidence between 2018 and 2022 among boys and men ages 13 and older. Among those aged between 13 and 24, the drop was 30%.
No change in HIV incidence was observed among the age groups between 25 and 64 years. Those aged 25 to 34 accounted for the incidence rate. Data on incidence rates for people aged 65 and over were considered not as reliable, although the rates appeared low. No age group saw an increase in infections.
Among different ethnic groups, blacks recorded the largest decrease in HIV incidence, at 18 percent, although this group was also responsible for the highest incidence rate in 2021. No changes were observed among Hispanic/Latino, white, and multiracial.
Regionally, the South was the only area of the US that saw a decrease – 16 percent – in incidence rates, while all other regions saw no change.
The HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute lamented that although new case rates are decreasing, they still remain high. The organization noted that this current pace prevents the US from achieving its goal of ending the HIV epidemic by 2030 and called for greater investment in this effort.
“While we would like to see better results, federal funding for CDC HIV prevention and the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment Program, along with other critical programs, has remained stable for years. The only increases have been for the end of the HIV Epidemic Initiative, and even that program has not received the increases needed to be successful,” said Carl Schmid, executive director of the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute.
“Without significant increases in care and treatment, and prevention programs, including PrEP, we will unfortunately continue to see only small declines in the number of new diagnoses, and racial and ethnic disparities will persist. As a nation, we can and must do better,” Schmid added.
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