Trends in Diseases Reported on US Death Certificates That Mentioned HIV Infection, 1996-2006.

OBJECTIVE

We examined trends during 1996-2006 in diseases reported on death certificates that mentioned HIV infection.

METHODS

We analyzed multiple-cause mortality data compiled from all US death certificates with any mention of HIV to determine the annual percentages of deaths with various diseases.

RESULTS

Deaths reported with HIV during 1996-2006 decreased from 35 340 to 13 750. Standardized percentages of death certificates reporting AIDS-defining opportunistic infections also decreased: pneumocytosis (6.3% to 5.1%), nontuberculous mycobacteriosis (5.5% to 1.8%), cytomegalovirus (5.7% to 1.2%). Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma rose from 4.8% in 1996 to 6.4% in 1997 and declined to 5.0% in 2001, while Kaposi's sarcoma declined from 3.7% in 1996 to 1.7% in 2001; these AIDS-defining cancers had stable percentages after 2001. All other cancers increased during 1996-2006 (2.7% to 7.3%). The percentage of deaths with diseases not specifically attributable to HIV increased: liver disease (5.8% to 13.0%), kidney disease (7.9% to 12.0%), and heart disease (4.9% to 10.2%).

CONCLUSION

Among deaths reported with HIV, the percentages reported with HIV-attributable diseases decreased, while the percentages reported with other diseases increased. Consequently, these other life-threatening diseases need more attention in the management of HIV-infected persons.