World AIDS Day
Norway has achieved global goals for the diagnosis and treatment of HIV
News
|Published
Over 95 percent of people living with HIV are diagnosed and over 95 percent of those receive treatment, show new studies from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI). The studies also indicate that Norway has achieved the World Health Organization's targets for diagnosis and treatment.
– Through these studies, we see that Norway has made significant progress toward eliminating HIV as a public health threat. This is important news to be able to share on World AIDS Day, says Robert Whittaker, researcher at FHI.
HIV infection to be eliminated as a public health threat
Globally over 40 million people live with HIV infection. There are more than one million new infections and over 600,000 deaths each year (who.int). In line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the World Health Organization (WHO) aims to eliminate HIV as a public health threat. Elimination is defined by various goals, including that 95 percent of people living with HIV should be diagnosed, and 95 percent of those should be receiving HIV treatment by 2025.
In Norway, around 5,500 people are estimated to be living with HIV in 2025. Men who have sex with men, transgender persons, immigrants from countries with a higher risk of infection and people who have ever injected drugs are the key groups at increased risk of infection. It is recommended that all individuals diagnosed with HIV infection are offered treatment (hivfag.no).
Few new HIV infections and low proportion of undiagnosed infections
In a new study, FHI has estimated the number of new HIV infections and undiagnosed infections in Norway up to the end of 2023. By using linked registry data, it was possible to distinguish new infections among people residing in Norway from infections acquired before immigration to Norway for the first time. There was estimated to be a low number of new infections in Norway each year and just over 200 undiagnosed infections in 2023. It was also estimated that 96.5 percent of all people living with HIV in Norway had been diagnosed.
– The number of undiagnosed infections appears to have steadily declined for nearly 15 years and was also low within various groups at higher risk of infection, states Whittaker.
– This study shows the results of the strong efforts made by the healthcare system, patient and community-based organisations, and other stakeholders to prevent transmission and diagnose those infected, he continues.
Most diagnosed individuals receive treatment
Another registry-based study (currently under peer review) showed that over 96 percent of all diagnosed persons had received treatment, and that over 95 percent of those still residing in Norway had received treatment within the past 24 months. The proportion on treatment was high across all groups by age, sex, year of diagnosis, place of residence, and country of birth. These results align well with data from the Norwegian HIV Registry.
More infections must be diagnosed
To continue preventing new infections and reducing the disease burden, it is important to maintain the achievement of these goals. One remaining challenge is that among new HIV diagnoses reported to FHI in recent years, the proportion diagnosed late (i.e., individuals who had been infected for a long time before being diagnosed) has been around 40 percent – 50 percent.
– We must continue working to reduce the number of undiagnosed infections. Everyone with an indication for testing should be offered an HIV test, Whittaker concludes.
For more information on HIV and AIDS, please see:
- Hivinfeksjon/Aids – håndbok for helsepersonell (in Norwegian)
- Blod- og seksuelt overførbare infeksjoner – temaside (in Norwegian)
- Blod- og seksuelt overførbare infeksjoner i Norge: Årsrapport 2024 (in Norwegian)
- Faglige retningslinjer for oppfølging og behandling av hiv (Norsk forening for infeksjonsmedisin)