Since the implementation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)
in the United States in 1996, the number of persons diagnosed with acquired
immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and the number of deaths among persons
with AIDS have declined substantially (1); as a result, the number of persons
living with AIDS has increased. This report describes changes in AIDS incidence,
prevalence, and deaths among persons with AIDS during January 1996--December
2000. Surveillance data indicate a slowing of declines in new AIDS diagnoses,
continued declines in deaths among persons with AIDS, and increases in
the number of persons living with AIDS. These findings indicate that AIDS
continues to place a burden on the health-care system in the United States
and that access to medical and preventive services must be improved to
reduce the public health impact of AIDS.
AIDS surveillance is conducted in all states, the District of Columbia,
and U.S. territories; cases are reported to CDC by using a standard definition
and form. In addition, most states conduct human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV) surveillance (2). To estimate AIDS incidence and deaths of persons
with AIDS through December 2000, CDC adjusted reported cases for reporting
delays (3). The HIV-exposure categories for cases reported initially without
risk were estimated from historical patterns of risk ascertainment and
reclassification. AIDS prevalence was estimated by subtracting cumulative
deaths from cumulative AIDS incidence (4).
AIDS incidence increased rapidly throughout the 1980s, peaked in the
early 1990s, and then declined (Figure 1). The peak of
new diagnoses in 1993 was associated with expansion of the AIDS surveillance
case definition (5). In 1996, sharp declines in AIDS incidence were observed
for the first time; during 1998--1999, declines in AIDS incidence began
to level. During 1999--2000, essentially no change in AIDS incidence was
observed; an estimated 40,907 new AIDS cases were diagnosed in 1999 and
an estimated 41,113 in 2000. During 1996--2000, AIDS incidence declined
in the West; declined and then leveled in the South, Midwest, and U.S.
territories; and declined and then increased in the Northeast. During the
same period, AIDS incidence declined sharply and then slowed among whites
and declined more slowly and then leveled among blacks, Hispanics, and
Asians/ Pacific Islanders; during 1998--1000, incidence increased among
American Indians/Alaska Natives from 152 in 1998 to 183 in 2000 (4). AIDS
incidence declined sharply and then slowed among men who have sex with
men (MSM) and injection-drug users (IDUs); incidence continued to decline
among MSM who also were IDUs. Among persons exposed through heterosexual
contact, incidence declined slowly during 1996--1998 and then increased
from 10,258 in 1999 to 11,136 in 2000 (Figure 2).
During 1996--1997, the estimated number of deaths among persons with
AIDS declined 42%; during 1998--2000, declines were smaller (5% during
1998--1999 and 10% during 1999--2000) (Table). During 1996--2000, the number
of deaths declined in the Northeast, West, and Midwest; during 1996--1999,
deaths declined in the South and U.S. territories, and then leveled during
1999--2000. The number of deaths declined in all racial/ethnic groups and
among MSM, male and female IDUs, and MSM/IDUs. During 1996--1998, the number
of deaths among men and women with AIDS attributed to heterosexual contact
declined and then leveled during 1999--2000 (Table).
AIDS prevalence has increased steadily over time; as of December 31,
2000, an estimated 337,731 persons in the United States were living with
AIDS (Figure 1). Of these, an estimated 139,522 (41%) were black, 127,838
(38%) white, 65,991 (20%) Hispanic, 2,841 (1%) Asians/Pacific Islanders,
and 1,180 (<1%) American Indians/Alaska Natives. An estimated 129,333
(38%) lived in the South, 99,482 (29%) in the Northeast, 66,085 (20%) in
the West, 32,909 (10%) in the Midwest, and 9,922 (3%) in U.S. territories.
Of the estimated 264,149 adult and adolescent (i.e., person aged >13 years)
males living with AIDS, approximately 151,325 (57%) were MSM, 64,522 (24%)
were IDUs, and 20,528 (8%) were MSM/IDUs; 23,333 (9%) were exposed through
heterosexual contact. Of the estimated 69,775 adult and adolescent women
living with AIDS, 40,051 (57%) were exposed through heterosexual contact,
and 27,475 (39%) were IDUs. An estimated 3,807 children aged <13 years
were living with AIDS; of these, approximately 90% were infected perinatally.
Reported by:
RM Klevens, JJ Neal, Div of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for
HIV, STD and TB Prevention, CDC.
Editorial Note:
During 1996--2000, AIDS incidence declined or leveled in most geographic
regions and among most racial/ethnic groups and HIV-exposure categories;
incidence increased slightly among persons exposed heterosexually and among
persons living in the Northeast (4). Although the number of deaths among
persons with AIDS declined during 1996--2000, the magnitude of decline
varied by region and exposure category; the number of deaths declined among
persons with AIDS in all racial/ethnic groups.
Declines in AIDS incidence and deaths are associated primarily with
the widespread use of HAART, which slows progression of HIV infection to
AIDS and of AIDS to death (1,6). Because effective therapy increases AIDS-free
survival rates among persons living with HIV, new AIDS diagnoses increasingly
represent persons who have failed HAART or have limited access to or use
of HIV testing or of appropriate medical care and social services. Monitoring
the entire spectrum of HIV disease, including the number of new HIV infections,
progression of HIV infection to AIDS, and deaths among persons with AIDS,
is critical for evaluating prevention efforts aimed at reducing the number
of new HIV infections and preventing morbidity and mortality among persons
living with HIV.
As of December 2000, an estimated 340,000 persons in the United States
were living with AIDS. Increasing proportions of persons living with AIDS
are black or Hispanic, female, residents of the South, and persons exposed
to HIV through heterosexual contact. This finding is consistent with other
studies that indicate HIV and AIDS affect disproportionately subgroups
that traditionally have had limited access to medical and preventive services
because of poverty and social disadvantage (1). This is particularly important
for interpreting trends in AIDS because access to high-quality medical
services facilitates early treatment of HIV infection and can delay the
onset of AIDS. Many persons in historically disadvantaged groups might
lack access to or not seek adequate health-care services. An estimated
one fourth of persons living with HIV in the United States are not aware
of their infection and their need for services, and one third of persons
who are aware of their infection are not receiving care (7). Efforts to
meet the preventive service and health-care needs of persons living with
HIV/AIDS are imperative to improving their quality of life and preventing
further transmission of HIV. For the United States to meet the national
goal of reducing new HIV infections by half by 2005 (8), improved access
to and use of HIV testing and other preventive services, access to care
and comprehensive services, and improvements in HIV therapies (1) are required.
References
1. Karon JM, Fleming PL, Steketee RW, De Cock KM. HIV
in the United States at the turn of the century; an epidemic in transition.
Am J Public Health 2001;91:1060--8.
2. CDC. Guidelines for national human immunodeficiency
virus case surveillance, including monitoring for human immunodeficiency
virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. MMWR 1999;48(No.
RR-13).
3. Green T. Using surveillance data to monitor trends
in the AIDS epidemic. Statist Med 1998;17:143-54.
4. CDC. HIV/AIDS surveillance report, 2001;13(2).
5. CDC. 1993 revised classification system for HIV infection
and expanded surveillance case definition for AIDS among adults and adolescents.
MMWR 1992;41(No. RR-17).
6. Hammer SM, Squires KE, Hughes MD, et al. A controlled
trial of two nucleoside analogues plus indinavir in persons with human
immunodeficiency virus infection and CD4 cell counts of 200 per cubic millimeter
or less. N Engl J Med 1997;337:725--33.
7. Fleming P, Byers RH, Sweeney PA, Daniels D, Karon JM,
Janssen RS. HIV prevalence in the United States, 2000. Seattle, Washington:
Presented at the 9th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections,
2002.
8. CDC. HIV
prevention strategic plan through 2005. Atlanta, Georgia: U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services, CDC, 2001. Available at .
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