Cohort Profile: The Danish HIV Cohort Study

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Abstract
Shortly after AIDS was recognized in USA, the first cases were diagnosed in Denmark.1,2 Today Denmark has a population of 5.3 million citizens and the prevalence of HIV infection in the adult population is estimated at ∼0.07%.3,4 Denmark's HIV epidemic is characterized by the ‘western world pattern’ in which the main transmission routes in the 1980s were between men who had sex with men (MSM), with later spread to heterosexual groups. Since 1995 mortality in the Danish HIV population has fallen drastically as a consequence of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), followed by an increase in HIV prevalence.5 HIV incidence has been rather stable. Denmark's tax-funded health care system provides treatment, including antiretroviral therapy, free-of-charge to all HIV-positive residents. The treatment of HIV-infected patients occurs only in eight specialized medical centres.