Objective: To evaluate the characteristics of HIV infected patients in the Rijnmond region during 1985-1993.
Design: Descriptive.
Setting: University Hospital Rotterdam-Dijkzigt (AZR).
Method: Data of medical records of all HIV infected patients in AZR were prospectively collected from 1988 on and retrospectively for 1985-1987.
Results: During the period 1985-1993 510 HIV positive patients consulted an internist at AZR (eight were infected with HIV-2). During the study 255 patients developed AIDS. Since 1991 fewer than 50% of the new HIV infected individuals belonged to the risk group of homosexual and bisexual men. The majority was infected by intravenous drug abuse or by heterosexual intercourse. Half the population infected by heterosexual transmission came from HIV endemic areas. The increasing number of HIV infection among heterosexuals was associated with an increasing number of HIV infected women.
Conclusion: The Rijnmond region showed a noticeable shift of risk groups with HIV infection: heterosexual transmission and intravenous drug abuse were the cause of HIV infection in more than half of the HIV infections at AZR in 1992 and 1993. Counselling, health care and treatment should take account of the diversity of cultural backgrounds of the patient groups.