HIV transmissions down by 12%. One age group in particular is bringing those numbers down.

According to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) HIV Surveillance Supplemental Report, HIV infections among men dropped an estimated 12% from 2018 to 2022, with the largest decrease among men aged 13 to 24.

Among men 25 to 64, there was no change, the 25 to 34 age group accounts entirely for the decrease. Data from men over 65 was thought to be unreliable, though the study noted they seem to be low.

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Black men experienced the largest decrease in HIV infection, as an 18% decrease was observed. However, this group also had the largest number of infections in general in 2022.

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In terms of regional demographics, the South had a 16% decrease, while other regions saw no change.

The largest decrease in HIV infections from 2018 to 2022 was among men ages 13 to 24, where HIV infections decreased by 30%. In another recent report, the CDC found that over 80% of people diagnosed with HIV had access to care within one month of diagnosis. Furthermore, 65% had achieved viral suppression in 2022. This may account for the change.

Another CDC study from 2023 found a similar percentage drop among young people, with an estimated 12% decrease in 2021 from 2017. There, the decline was also caused by a large decrease in new infections from people aged 13 to 24 years old, mostly among gay and bisexual men. In the report, the CDC said that the data suggests “improved reach of HIV testing, treatment, and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has contributed to progress in HIV prevention among young gay and bisexual males.”

In a press release, the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute said that while this may be good news and that cases are dropping, they are still high. With these rates, the U.S. would not be able to reduce HIV transmissions by 90% by 2030, which is the CDC’s goal.

“Though we see some encouraging developments, including a decrease of 16 percent of new diagnoses in the South since 2018 and an impressive drop of 21 percent since 2017 in the phase 1 Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative jurisdictions, disparities persist, particularly among gay men of all races and ethnicities, transgender women, Blacks, and Latinos. Among these communities, there were some improvements; however, for transgender women, diagnoses increased by 25 percent. Latino gay men now account for 39 percent of all HIV diagnoses among men who have sex with men.”

“While we would have liked to see improved outcomes, federal funding for CDC HIV prevention and the Ryan White HIV/AIDS care and treatment program, along with other critical programs, has remained flat for years. The only increases have been for the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative, and even that program hasn’t received the increases it needs to be successful,” commented Carl Schmid, executive director of the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute.

“Without significant increases for care and treatment, and prevention programs, including those for PrEP, sadly we will continue to experience only small drops in the number of new diagnoses, and racial and ethnic disparities will persist. As a nation, we can and must do better.”

The CDC reports that there are approximately 1.2 million people living with HIV in the U.S.

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