HIV mortuary surveillance system in Kyiv, Ukraine, July-December 2021

In Ukraine, accurate HIV mortality data are lacking due to limited information on HIV-related deaths. This study focuses on Kyiv to track HIV-related deaths among undiagnosed individuals living with HIV and evaluate HIV programming for cause-of-death identification.

Five mortuaries in Kyiv were selected to participate (July-December 2021) with cadavers from people aged 18+ years. HIV status was determined through serology; patient files were examined for prior diagnosis and treatment. Bivariate analyses were conducted to assess HIV status and select characteristics and chi-square or Fisher's exact tests were used, as appropriate, to assess statistical significance. Multivariable logistic regression explored correlates of HIV.

Of 1,513 cadavers, 39 (2.6%) tested positive for HIV, among whom, 31 (79.5%) had documentation of an HIV-positive status before death. Overall, medical records for 94% of all 1,513 cadavers did not contain information about HIV status at the time of death.

HIV testing in cadavers can be used to understand burden of HIV disease; data from clinical record from the deceased can be used to assess morbidity and mortality associated with HIV.