Abstract
Objective: To monitor Canadian HIV/AIDS mortality following the introduction of antiretroviral therapies in 1996, and to compare this with the US experience.
Methods: Deaths were extracted by underlying cause of death, age, sex, marital status and place of residence at time of death. Age-specific leading causes of death, potential years of life lost before age 65, and rates are presented.
Results: HIV deaths peaked in 1995 at 1,764, representing 1% of all deaths, 15% of male deaths aged 25–44, and the second leading cause of death for males age 25–44, trailing suicides. From 1995 to 1997, HIV deaths dropped by 66% for males and 43% for females. Rates for Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal were 6 times higher than in rural areas, and 2.5 times higher than in other Census Metropolitan Areas.
Conclusions: As of 1998, HIV still was a leading cause of premature mortality. The trend in Canadian HIV mortality was similar to that in the US, though US rates remain double the Canadian rates. The drop in HIV deaths may not be sustained in the long term, as antiretroviral therapy is not a cure and the number of people living with HIV is increasing.
Résumé
Objectif: Surveiller la mortalité canadienne due au VIH/sida après l’introduction des thérapies antirétrovirales en 1996, et la comparer à celle des États-Unis.
Méthodes: Les données sur les décès ont été dépouillées selon la cause sous-jacente de mortalité, l’âge, le sexe, l’état matrimonial et le lieu de résidence au moment du décès. Les principales causes de mortalité par groupe d’âge, les années de vie potentiellement perdues avant l’âge de 65 ans et les taux sont présentés.
Résultats: Les décès dus au VIH ont culminé à 1 764 en 1995, représentant 1 % de tous les décès et 15 % des décès d’hommes de 25 à 44 ans (c’est la plus importante cause de mortalité dans ce groupe, après les suicides). De 1995 à 1997, la mortalité due au VIH a chuté de 66 % chez les hommes et de 43 % chez les femmes. Les taux pour Toronto, Vancouver et Montréal étaient 6 fois plus élevés qu’en milieu rural et 2,5 fois plus élevés que dans les autres régions métropolitaines de recensement.
Conclusions: En 1998, le VIH demeure une cause principale de mortalité prématurée. La tendance dans la mortalité canadienne due au VIH était semblable à celle des États-Unis, bien que les taux des États-Unis demeurent le double des taux canadiens. Il est possible que la chute de la mortalité due au VIH ne persiste pas à long terme, puisque la thérapie antirétrovirale ralentit seulement la progression de la maladie, sans la guérir, et que le nombre de personnes qui vivent avec le VIH augmente.
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