The epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic features of HIV disease diagnosed in 41 immigrants from outside of the European Union (EU), were compared with those of 123 Italian and EU patients, in a cross-sectional case-control study, with individuals matched according to age and gender. In total 4.15% of our patients came from outside of the EU (51.2% of them from subsaharan Africa), with a proportional predominance of females, and heterosexual and perinatal transmission of HIV disease (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.02, respectively). Compared with Italian and EU subjects, patients coming from abroad had a shorter duration of known HIV infection (P < 0.001), but only some subjects were aware of their HIV disease prior to immigration, or acquired HIV infection only after coming to Italy (14.6% and 12.2%, respectively). No cases of HIV-2 infection or co-infection were detected in either study group. Compared with controls, patients coming from outside of the EU had a comparable clinical and immunological status, and had similar antiretroviral therapy, which was administered earlier (P < 0.0001), and proved better tolerated (P < 0.04), than in Italian and EU subjects. The apparently more limited virological response (as expressed by a higher mean plasma viral load, and a lower rate of viral suppression at the last visit; P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively), was probably a bias due to the shorter mean overall follow-up time (P < 0.0001), and the shorter mean duration of antiretroviral treatment (11.1 ± 2.2 months of immigrants vs. 16.2 ± 6.7 months of controls: P < 0.0001).

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immigrant Human immunodeficiency virus 2 HIV Infections Human immunodeficiency virus infection follow up clinical feature human middle aged perinatal period controlled study health status antiretrovirus agent nonhuman Human immunodeficiency virus disease duration Cross-Sectional Studies heterosexuality Humans male female Africa drug tolerance clinical article European Union immunology Article adult gender HIV-1 age virus load Sex Distribution age distribution virus transmission Emigration and Immigration Italy Case-Control Studies drug response Anti-HIV Agents Child