On the risk of using raw regional data on new HIV infections in France

Dear Editor, We read with particular interest the article by Wang H et al., analysing the spatio-temporal evolution of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use among French men who have sex with men (MSM) over the 2016–2021 period [ 1], as part of the authorship has been actively promoting and studying PrEP intake for several years in the French Centre-Val de Loire region (CVL): implementation of teleconsultations dedicated to PrEP, involvement of community players in these consultations and targeted prevention initiatives [ 2–4]. [...]we were proud to discover that our region was ranked first in PrEP uptake among MSM, with twice the prevalence rate of other French regions. [...]the unadjusted data reporting 11 cases of infection among MSM in the CVL region in 2017 must be compared with the 30 or so cases estimated after taking into account underreporting, or with the 26 cases of infection reported locally by the regional HIV committee (COREVIH-CVL). [...]these results and methodological framework are of great interest but must be reviewed with caution according to the data sources.