HIV-INFECTED PATIENTS' ATTENDANCE FOR DENTAL CARE IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION (2021-2025)

Relevance. HIV infection remains one of the most pressing issues in modern healthcare. According to the Federal Scientific and Methodological Center for AIDS Prevention and Control, as of the end of 2024, more than 1.2 million people were registered as living with HIV in the Russian Federation. Dental manifestations of HIV infection are early and important markers of disease progression, occurring in 30–80 % of patients. Patients with HIV infection represent a special risk group in dental practice, characterized by a high need for dental care and specific manifestations in the oral cavity. The purpose. Analysis of the number of patients with HIV infection seeking dental care in the Russian Federation, the Northwestern Federal District, and St. Petersburg, with determination of the structure of dental diseases. Materials and Methods. A retrospective analysis of primary medical records of HIV-infected patients seeking dental care in public and private healthcare facilities was conducted. The pattern of dental diseases was examined in comparable groups of adults, taking into account their receipt of antiretroviral therapy. Results. A high need for dental care was found in 96 % of patients with HIV infection. The main reasons for visits were: dental caries and its complications (78.4 %), periodontal disease (67.2 %), and oral candidiasis (34.6 %). Patients receiving ART demonstrated a statistically significantly lower incidence of opportunistic oral infections. Conclusion. A high need for dental care was found in 96 % of patients with HIV infection. The main reasons for visits were: dental caries and its complications (78.4 %), periodontal disease (67.2 %), and oral candidiasis (34.6 %). Patients receiving ART demonstrated a statistically significantly lower incidence of opportunistic oral infections.