Early Signs, Late Action: Missed HIV Testing Opportunities in Routine Clinical Practice

Early Signs, Late Action: Missed HIV Testing Opportunities in Routine Clinical Practice | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 17 July 2025 V1 Latest version Share on Early Signs, Late Action: Missed HIV Testing Opportunities in Routine Clinical Practice Authors : Nazife Duygu Demirbaş 0000-0002-0760-7740 [email protected] , Özlem Gül 0000-0002-1668-0157 , Ceren Atasoy Tahtasakal 0000-0003-0392-229X , Umut Ozgur , Okan Derin , Ahsen Oncul , and Dilek Yildiz Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.175276091.19322911/v1 Published Sexually Transmitted Infections Version of record Peer review timeline 228 views 70 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Background: Although Türkiye has a relatively low HIV prevalence, late presentation remains a major public health issue, with up to 50% of newly diagnosed patients showing advanced immunosuppression at diagnosis. This study assessed the prevalence and factors associated with missed opportunities for HIV testing among newly diagnosed adults. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study at a tertiary HIV center in Türkiye, enrolling adults (≥18 years) newly diagnosed within the past six months. Data on demographics, healthcare use, and indicator conditions over the prior three years were collected through interviews and records. Missed opportunities were defined as encounters where patients with guideline-based indications who sought care and disclosed risk were not offered an HIV test. Results: Among 142 participants (median age 34 years, 94% male), 77% had accessed healthcare in the three years before diagnosis, yet 22.5% experienced at least one missed testing opportunity. Missed opportunities were significantly associated with older age (median 37 vs. 32.5 years; p=0.016), lower CD4 counts at diagnosis (median 183.5 vs. 367 cells/mm 3 ; p<0.001), and unemployment (aOR 0.16; p=0.018). Patients aged ≥50 years faced over threefold higher odds in univariate analysis. Even for clear indicators such as sexually transmitted infections, testing was offered in only 60% of cases. Conclusion: Missed opportunities for HIV testing remain a barrier to early diagnosis in Türkiye. Strengthening provider-initiated strategies, applying indicator-condition–guided protocols, and improving provider–patient communication are essential to enhance timely detection. Supplementary Material File (jmv.docx) Download 149.84 KB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 17 July 2025 Peer review timeline Published Sexually Transmitted Infections Version of Record 11 Feb 2026 Published Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Keywords epidemiology human immunodeficiency virus infection sexually transmitted disease virus classification Authors Affiliations Nazife Duygu Demirbaş 0000-0002-0760-7740 [email protected] TC Saglik Bakanligi Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Egitim ve Arastirma Hastanesi View all articles by this author Özlem Gül 0000-0002-1668-0157 TC Saglik Bakanligi Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Egitim ve Arastirma Hastanesi View all articles by this author Ceren Atasoy Tahtasakal 0000-0003-0392-229X TC Saglik Bakanligi Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Egitim ve Arastirma Hastanesi View all articles by this author Umut Ozgur TC Saglik Bakanligi Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Egitim ve Arastirma Hastanesi View all articles by this author Okan Derin TC Saglik Bakanligi Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Egitim ve Arastirma Hastanesi View all articles by this author Ahsen Oncul TC Saglik Bakanligi Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Egitim ve Arastirma Hastanesi View all articles by this author Dilek Yildiz TC Saglik Bakanligi Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Egitim ve Arastirma Hastanesi View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 228 views 70 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Nazife Duygu Demirbaş, Özlem Gül, Ceren Atasoy Tahtasakal, et al. Early Signs, Late Action: Missed HIV Testing Opportunities in Routine Clinical Practice. Authorea . 17 July 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.175276091.19322911/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . 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