Trends in Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) use in 9 Canadian provinces – 2018-2021 (Infographic)

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Organization: Public Health Agency of Canada

Date published: 2022-12-01

Annual estimated PrEP use prevalence by province [per 100,000]

PrEP uptake has increased across almost all provinces.

Table 1. PrEP uptake by year and province
Year 2018 2019 2020 2021
Manitoba 8 12 12 16
New Brunswick 19 24 22 27
Newfoundland 7 15 18 23
Nova Scotia 27 42 48 42
Ontario 42 64 65 74
Prince Edward Island 9 9 15 22
Quebec 37 49 54 61
Saskatchewan 21 42 50 53
British Columbia 63 94 97 108

Prevalence of PrEP use [per 100,000] by age group in 2021

PrEP use prevalence was the highest among those 30 – 39 years of age.

Table 2. Estimated rate of people using PrEP in Canada by age group of 2021
Age groups Rate (per 100,000)
0-19 years 4
20-29 years 115
30-39 years 179
40-49 years 116
50-59 years 71
60-69 years 31
70+ years 5

Annual prevalence of PrEP use [per 100,000], Canada (9 provinces)

PrEP use in Canada has increased overall, and among both males and females. However, PrEP is used primarily by males (98% of people on PrEP in 2021).

Table 3. Estimated rate of people using PrEP in Canada by year
Année 2018 2019 2020 2021
PrEP use prevalence 40 59 62 70

PrEP prescriptions by specialty in 2021

The percentage of PrEP prescriptions prescribed by specialty in 2021:

PrEP Prescriptions by payer type in 2021

Half of PrEP prescriptions were paid by private insurance, followed by public insurance (46%) and only 1% was paid by cash.

Date Sources: British Columbia: Annual estimates of persons using PrEP in British Columbia were provided by the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS. All other provinces: Annual estimates of persons using PrEP in Canada were generated from IQVIA's geographical prescription monitor dataset.

Data for the three territories and Alberta are not currently available and therefore have not been presented.

Notes: Any analysis of IQVIA data is arrived at independently and IQVIA is not responsible for any reliance by recipients of the data or any analysis thereof. The analyses, conclusions, opinions and statements expressed herein are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of IQVIA.

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