A six-year follow-up of HIV seroprevalence among 300 intravenous drug users in Stockholm.

As HIV tests became available in 1984, 300 intravenous drug users (IVDUs) admitted to treatment centres in Stockholm were tested and asked questions regarding their drug use and other risk factors with regard to HIV. At this initial testing, 33 persons (11.0%) were seropositive. Among the 79 heroin users, 28 (35.4%) were positive. The cohort has been followed until 1990 at which time a further 12 seroconversions had taken place. Annual seroconversion rates fell during the study period. The findings support the official statistics showing a fall in new HIV diagnoses among IVDUs during the second half of the 1980's.