Trend in HIV incidence in a cohort of homosexual men in Sydney: data from the Health in Men Study.

Objectives: To determine the incidence of HIV seroconversion in a community-based cohort of homosexual men in Sydney from 2002 to 2006.

Methods: Participants were recruited between 2001 and 2004 from community-based events and venues. They were tested for HIV annually at follow-up interviews. Each year, the study database was matched against the national HIV register to identify additional HIV seroconversions among men lost to active follow up. The trend in HIV incidence over time was examined using Cox regression.

Results: Among 1426 participants, 52 cases of HIV seroconversion were identified between 2002 and 2006, an incidence of 0.87 per 100 person-years (95% CI: 0.65-1.14). HIV incidence varied from 1.67 per 100 person-years in 2002 to 0.39 in 2006 (P trend = 0.282). The median age of HIV seroconversion was 36.9 years, ranging from 22 to 63 years.

Conclusion: In this community-based cohort of highly sexually active homosexual men in Sydney, HIV incidence was close to 1% each year and declined non-significantly between 2002 and 2006. These data are consistent with surveillance data suggesting no increase in recent HIV incidence in homosexual men in New South Wales.