Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) mortality in industrialized nations, 1987-1991

Objective To compare patterns of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) mortality in 11 selected industrialized countries with highly developed death registration systems and a broad range of cumulative AIDS incidence rates. Methods Data on HIV/AIDS mortality were obtained from the World Health Organization (WHO) and Statistics Canada for the years 1987-1991. We obtained data for Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, the former Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland, and the US, stratified by sex and 5-year age groups. Population figures were obtained from national censal, post-censal or interpolated annual estimates compiled by WHO and from Statistics Canada. Results A total of 141 534 deaths were attributed to HIV/AIDS (126 224 in men and 15 310 in women) in the 11 countries from 1987 to 1991. The majority of deaths (73.7%) occurred in the US. Other countries contributing substantially to the number of deaths were France (7.1%), Italy (4.9%), Spain (4.9%), former West Germany (3.5%), and Canada (3.0%). Age-specific death rates for men aged 25-44 years in 1991 were highest in the USA at 47.1 per 100 000 population and highest for women in Switzerland at 7.7 per 100 000 population. Potential years of life lost (PYLL) before age 75 years were highest for males in the US (2388 per 100 000 population) and for females in Switzerland (373 per 100 000 population). The lowest rates were in New Zealand (339 per 100 000 population in men and 6.5 per 100 000 population in women). Conclusions This historical demographic analysis indicates that mortality resulting from HIV infection and AIDS among men and women varies considerable by country. Rates of death were highest in the US and lowest in Australia, the Netherlands, and New Zealand.