[Changes in the natural history of AIDS in patients from Mallorca and Ibiza: 1986-1992].

BACKGROUND

Longitudinal follow-up studies in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and AIDS, which are fundamental for the knowledge of variations the natural history of this disease, have generally been carried out by Public Health Departments and in populations in which homosexual males predominate. The aim of the present study was to analyze the changes in the natural history of the patients diagnosed with AIDS in the islands of Mallorca and Ibiza.

METHODS

A prospective study of the adult patients diagnosed with AIDS in Mallorca and Ibiza, from 1986 to 1992 was performed.

RESULTS

The annual incidence of the cases of AIDS increased throughout the study. The mean age of the patients did not vary, and neither did that in relation to sexes. A progressive decrease was observed in CD4 lymphocytes at the time of diagnosis (from 0.168 x 10(9)/l in 1986 to 0.079 x 10(9)/l in 1992). There was an increase in heterosexual transmission patients with no known risk factors also increased over the period studied. The incidence of extrapulmonary tuberculosis decreased both as the form of presentation and in its global frequency. Pneumonia by Pneumocystis carinii increased mainly as a initial feature. The median survival was 547 days and did not vary significantly throughout the study.

CONCLUSIONS

The epidemiologic and clinical study of AIDS in Mallorca and Ibiza, Spain is similar to that observed in other Mediterranean regions. The incidence of extrapulmonary tuberculosis has decreased.