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After the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, the Algarve is the second region of the country with the highest rate of diagnosis of people with HIV infection (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). Thus, in 2019, the number of cases diagnosed per 100,000 inhabitants was 13.7 in the district of Lisbon and 13.5 in the district of Faro.
However, in absolute terms, the Algarve is much less prominent, with 59 new cases of HIV infection (aged 15 years and over) diagnosed in 2019, being surpassed by Lisbon (391), North (162) and Center (110 ).
However, the data on HIV infection, which, if left untreated, can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), is encouraging in Portugal, as the number of new cases has fallen again in 2019, maintaining the downward trend that has been observed since 2000. In other words, the year 1999 is long past, when 3,358 cases of HIV infection were diagnosed in Portugal. 
Today, December 1, World AIDS Day, the report “HIV and AIDS in Portugal – 2020”, prepared by the Directorate General of Health (DGS) and by the National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), from 1 Since From January to December 31, 2019, 778 new cases of HIV infection were diagnosed throughout the country, 331 cases less than in 2018.
The DGS and INSA report addresses the specific case of the city of Portimão, which is one of the 10 Portuguese cities that join the initiative “Cities on the fast track to end the HIV epidemic”, which aims to involve municipalities in the fight against the epidemic and in meeting the 90-90-90 targets of the Joint United Nations Program on HIV / AIDS – UNAIDS. Besides the city of Portimão, in the Algarve, Almada, Amadora, Cascais, Lisboa, Loures, Odivelas, Oeiras, Portimão, Porto and Sintra also participate.
As can be seen in the graph, in Portimão, from 2014 to 2018, 70 cases were diagnosed, which resulted in an average of 25.3 cases diagnosed per 100,000 inhabitants ~. Dismantling some myths that still persist in society, the data indicate that the most frequent form of transmission is heterosexual (55.7%).
In fact, the Algarve has five municipalities among the 15 municipalities in mainland Portugal with the highest average rate of new diagnoses of HIV infection (2015-2019): Portimão (rate of 26.0 cases diagnosed per 100,000 inhabitants), Albufeira (24, 0), Faro (22.6) and Lagos (17.7).
But the DGS and INSA report indicates that, in addition to the reduction in the annual number of new infections diagnoses, this year there is also a percentage of late diagnoses below 50%. The report indicates that the percentage of late diagnoses went from 54.4% in 2018 to 49.7%, which “demonstrates the effort that has been made to diagnose earlier and earlier.”
The majority (69.3%) of new cases of HIV infection were in men (2.3 cases for each reported case in women) and the median age at diagnosis was 38 years. In 24.1% of new cases, the individuals were 50 years of age or older.
Although heterosexual transmission continues to be the most frequent, nationally, cases in Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) constituted the majority of new diagnoses in men (56.7%).
Regarding the area of residence, 50.4% of the people lived in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (13.7 cases / 100,000 inhabitants) and the Algarve region had the second highest rate of diagnoses (13.5 cases / 100,000 inhabitants). population).
In the period under review, no cases of HIV transmission in children were reported.
Regarding deaths, 197 deaths were reported in HIV-infected patients during 2019, and in 46.2% of these cases, people had already reached the AIDS stage.
Analyzing the accumulated data, from the beginning of the registries, in 1983, until December 31, 2019, 61,433 cases of HIV infection were identified in Portugal, of which 22,835 reached the AIDS stage.
Between 2009 and 2018, there was a 47% reduction in the number of new cases of HIV infection and a 65% reduction in new cases of AIDS.
According to the DGS, “to obtain better results with an impact on early diagnosis, it is important to strengthen and maintain community responses, encourage the extension of the rapid test in community pharmacies to other regions of the country, publicize the different options to carry out the test. screening, including the availability of self-assessments and promotion of literacy among the population and health professionals ”.
For this reason, initiatives such as “Fast-track cities to end the HIV epidemic”, in which Portimão participates, are considered by the DGS as “fundamental for the achievement of the proposed objectives”.
Click here for the full report “HIV and AIDS in Portugal – 2020” (PDF)
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