Marked Declines in Human Immunodeficiency Virus–Related Mortality in Chicago in Women, African Americans, Hispanics, Young Adults, and Injection Drug Users, From 1995 Through 1997

Abstract

THE NUMBER of deaths related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) increased every year in the United States between 1980 and 1995.¹ The first decline occurred in 1996, followed by an even larger one in 1997.² However, enthusiasm for these marked declines in national HIV-related mortality, most likely resulting from access to primary care and triple combination therapies, has been tempered by disparities in these declines among various subpopulations. In particular, there has been a discouraging lack of progress in declines among groups who are increasingly affected by HIV disease, ie, women, adolescents and young adults, African Americans, Hispanics, and injection drug users (IDUs).^3,4 Contributing to the challenges in this area is the fact that neither the federal government nor any local agency has yet published comprehensive AIDS mortality data. Herein we report HIV-related mortality in Chicago, Ill, through 1997, with particular attention to subpopulations that have previously not shown notable decline in HIV mortality.