Dynamics of HIV transmission among men who have sex with men in Taiwan: a mathematical modeling study

Abstract Background In Taiwan, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is primarily transmitted among men who have sex with men (MSM). We believe that the primary source of heterogeneity influencing transmission is from whether the infected individuals engage in behaviors that promote transmission. T...

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Main Authors: Haoran Sun, Hiromi Kawasaki, Miwako Tsunematsu, Yoko Shimpuku, Sanmei Chen, Fumiko Kagiura, Masayuki Kakehashi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-11-01
Series:BMC Public Health
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20494-w
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author Haoran Sun
Hiromi Kawasaki
Miwako Tsunematsu
Yoko Shimpuku
Sanmei Chen
Fumiko Kagiura
Masayuki Kakehashi
author_facet Haoran Sun
Hiromi Kawasaki
Miwako Tsunematsu
Yoko Shimpuku
Sanmei Chen
Fumiko Kagiura
Masayuki Kakehashi
author_sort Haoran Sun
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background In Taiwan, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is primarily transmitted among men who have sex with men (MSM). We believe that the primary source of heterogeneity influencing transmission is from whether the infected individuals engage in behaviors that promote transmission. Therefore, we differentiated and modeled the statuses of infected individuals, estimated parameters, and predicted future infection trends to better understand HIV transmission dynamics among MSM. Methods We devised a computational approach to accurately estimate the number of infectious individuals during early surveillance years in Taiwan using monthly data of newly diagnosed patients with HIV from January 2005 to December 2006. Subsequently, using annual incident cases from 2005 to 2019, we estimated the susceptibility rate, transmission rates, and duration of risk and conducted short-term forecasts of HIV infection among MSM through mathematical modeling based on the susceptible-infected-removed model. Parameters and their values, such as HIV and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) transmission rates and removal rates, were also estimated. Results A total of 850 infectious individuals with HIV were identified in 2005. From 2005 to 2019, approximately 0.68% (95% confidence interval: 0.64–0.71%) of Taiwan’s male population were estimated to be susceptible to HIV infection via MSM. The transmission rate did not significantly differ between individuals with HIV and AIDS (0.0110 and 0.107 per 10,000 individuals, respectively). The average infection duration between infection and AIDS onset was 4.5 years and between AIDS onset and death was 2.1 years. In 2019, the proportion of infectious infected individuals continuously decreased. By 2026, only 11.85% and 10.21% of individuals with HIV and AIDS, respectively, will be infectious. Conclusions Our study presents a new dynamic mathematical model for estimating infectious HIV cases among MSM in Taiwan. By accounting for the heterogeneity of infectious HIV/AIDS within the MSM population, we effectively estimated the number of infections during early surveillance years and implement concentrated measures, thereby reducing infectious HIV/AIDS cases, which contributes to the overall reduction in HIV/AIDS cases. With these estimations, identifying target populations and implementing effective intervention measures at appropriate times can be improved.
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spelling doaj-art-62b5f55dc0ee4a6bbeaa17b6e87b7b5b2024-11-10T12:46:23ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582024-11-0124111310.1186/s12889-024-20494-wDynamics of HIV transmission among men who have sex with men in Taiwan: a mathematical modeling studyHaoran Sun0Hiromi Kawasaki1Miwako Tsunematsu2Yoko Shimpuku3Sanmei Chen4Fumiko Kagiura5Masayuki Kakehashi6Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima UniversityGraduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima UniversityGraduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima UniversityGraduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima UniversityGraduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima UniversityGraduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima UniversityGraduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima UniversityAbstract Background In Taiwan, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is primarily transmitted among men who have sex with men (MSM). We believe that the primary source of heterogeneity influencing transmission is from whether the infected individuals engage in behaviors that promote transmission. Therefore, we differentiated and modeled the statuses of infected individuals, estimated parameters, and predicted future infection trends to better understand HIV transmission dynamics among MSM. Methods We devised a computational approach to accurately estimate the number of infectious individuals during early surveillance years in Taiwan using monthly data of newly diagnosed patients with HIV from January 2005 to December 2006. Subsequently, using annual incident cases from 2005 to 2019, we estimated the susceptibility rate, transmission rates, and duration of risk and conducted short-term forecasts of HIV infection among MSM through mathematical modeling based on the susceptible-infected-removed model. Parameters and their values, such as HIV and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) transmission rates and removal rates, were also estimated. Results A total of 850 infectious individuals with HIV were identified in 2005. From 2005 to 2019, approximately 0.68% (95% confidence interval: 0.64–0.71%) of Taiwan’s male population were estimated to be susceptible to HIV infection via MSM. The transmission rate did not significantly differ between individuals with HIV and AIDS (0.0110 and 0.107 per 10,000 individuals, respectively). The average infection duration between infection and AIDS onset was 4.5 years and between AIDS onset and death was 2.1 years. In 2019, the proportion of infectious infected individuals continuously decreased. By 2026, only 11.85% and 10.21% of individuals with HIV and AIDS, respectively, will be infectious. Conclusions Our study presents a new dynamic mathematical model for estimating infectious HIV cases among MSM in Taiwan. By accounting for the heterogeneity of infectious HIV/AIDS within the MSM population, we effectively estimated the number of infections during early surveillance years and implement concentrated measures, thereby reducing infectious HIV/AIDS cases, which contributes to the overall reduction in HIV/AIDS cases. With these estimations, identifying target populations and implementing effective intervention measures at appropriate times can be improved.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20494-wMathematical modelHuman immunodeficiency virusAcquired immunodeficiency syndromeEstimationPrediction
spellingShingle Haoran Sun
Hiromi Kawasaki
Miwako Tsunematsu
Yoko Shimpuku
Sanmei Chen
Fumiko Kagiura
Masayuki Kakehashi
Dynamics of HIV transmission among men who have sex with men in Taiwan: a mathematical modeling study
BMC Public Health
Mathematical model
Human immunodeficiency virus
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
Estimation
Prediction
title Dynamics of HIV transmission among men who have sex with men in Taiwan: a mathematical modeling study
title_full Dynamics of HIV transmission among men who have sex with men in Taiwan: a mathematical modeling study
title_fullStr Dynamics of HIV transmission among men who have sex with men in Taiwan: a mathematical modeling study
title_full_unstemmed Dynamics of HIV transmission among men who have sex with men in Taiwan: a mathematical modeling study
title_short Dynamics of HIV transmission among men who have sex with men in Taiwan: a mathematical modeling study
title_sort dynamics of hiv transmission among men who have sex with men in taiwan a mathematical modeling study
topic Mathematical model
Human immunodeficiency virus
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
Estimation
Prediction
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20494-w
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