Determination of the treatment-free aids incubation
distribution using a system dynamics optimisation tool.
Brian C. Dangerfield
Center for OR & Applied Statistics
University of Salford
Salford M5 4WT
United Kingdom
Phone: 0161-295-5187; fax: 0161-295-5556
B.C.Dangerfield @ business.salford.ac.uk
It is necessary to establish the form and parameters of the AIDS incubation distribution,
not only because this is an essential facet of any model of AIDS spread, but also because
it can then be used as a benchmark against which to assess the effcet of new treatments in
lengthening the mean incubation time. Data from AIDS patients infected via transfusion
of contaminated blood are used to fit a multicohort model which evaluates several
candidate distributions. A best fit distribution is offered. Emphasis is also given to the
resolution of various modeling complications involved, one of which is the data
discontinuity caused by the introduction of routine screening of blood donations for HIV
in 1985.
CC BY-NC-SA 4.0