HIV in Canada-Surveillance Report, 2018

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Public Health Surveillance
• Infectious Disease Trends

Background:

• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains a significant global health concern.
• Canada has monitored HIV diagnoses since 1985 through the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).

Purpose of the Study:

• To present an epidemiological overview of reported HIV diagnoses in Canada from 1985 to 2018.
• To analyze HIV diagnosis trends by geography, age, sex, and exposure category for 2018.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the national HIV/AIDS Surveillance System, a passive, case-based data collection system.
• Incorporated data from Canadian provinces, territories, and specific programs (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Canadian Perinatal HIV Surveillance Program).
• Conducted descriptive epidemiological analyses on national and population-specific data.

Main Results:

• In 2018, Canada reported 2,561 HIV diagnoses, an 8.2% increase from 2017, with a national rate of 6.9 per 100,000 population.
• Saskatchewan had the highest provincial rate (14.9/100,000); the 30-39 age group had the highest rate (15.4/100,000).
• Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) represented 41.4% of adult cases, though this proportion decreased over time. Females showed an increased rate and number of cases.

Conclusions:

• HIV diagnoses and rates rose in Canada in 2018.
• gbMSM remains the primary exposure category, while cases among women are increasing.
• PHAC is committed to enhancing data collection and analysis to better understand the HIV burden in Canada.