Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in New York City. Evaluation of an active surveillance system

Abstract

In Jan. 1983, the New York City Department of Health initiated an active surveillance program for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in 19 hospitals and a modified-active surveillance program in the remaining 69 hospitals. Hospital laboratory and autopsy records in 12 active surveillance hospitals and 3 modified-active surveillance hospitals were reviewed six mo. later. Patients who had opportunistic diseases characteristic of AIDS diagnosed in 1982 (before active surveillance) and 1983 (after implementation of active surveillance) were matched against health department AIDS surveillance reports. For the 16 mo. evaluated, 96% of patients identified with AIDS in the 12 active surveillance hospitals and 100% of those of the 3 modified-active surveillance hospitals had been reported to the health department. The delay between diagnosing a case and reporting it to the health department significantly decreased between 1981 and the first 6 mo. of 1983 in all hospitals. The proportion of cases reported within 1 mo. of diagnosis increased from 45% to 69% during this period. Thus, the current surveillance program for AIDS in New York City is effective and case reporting is sufficiently complete for accurate analysis of disease trends.