Living with AIDS

Article Abstract:

For the past nine years AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) has been a devastating disease; patients have typically survived less than one year from the time of diagnosis and have suffered profoundly during the course of their illness. As scientists gained understanding of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), pessimism grew because of the high rate of progression from HIV infection to the AIDS disease. During the coming five years, a huge increase in illness and death from HIV is anticipated. Two studies concerning duration of survival with AIDS are reported in the January 19, 1990 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association. The data of Lemp et al and Harris offer some hope. Patients treated with zidovudine, especially those who had Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia at initial diagnosis of AIDS, survived longer. Treatments that prevent Pneumocystis, such as aerosolized pentamidine, and sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim, may also have contributed significantly to delayed mortality, although data were not collected on use of these drugs. While these treatments are having a positive impact, it is questionable whether HIV infection can yet be considered a chronic but manageable disease. Available HIV therapies can slow down, but cannot arrest, the progression of the illness; researchers expect that total suppression of HIV activity will be difficult. Many infected individuals have no way of obtaining either the special drugs they need, or general health services. The gains in survival achieved with zidovudine and prophylaxis for Pneumocystis should stimulate and encourage efforts to develop and to fairly distribute even more effective treatments to the many individuals who need them. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Care and treatment, Prognosis, HIV (Viruses), HIV, editorial

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Impact of AIDS on mortality in San Francisco, 1979-1986

Article Abstract:

The number of deaths and years of potential life lost before the age of 65 was determined for residents of San Francisco from 1979 to 1986. The number of deaths that were related to AIDS increased from 5 (0.1 percent of all deaths) in 1979 to 534 (6.6 percent) in 1986, with a total of 4,509 deaths related to AIDS during the seven years. AIDS-related deaths included deaths from infection with cytomegalovirus and cryptococcus, pneumonia caused by Pneumocystis carinii, cancer of the skin, and immune deficiency. Of the deaths caused by AIDS-related diseases, 84 percent (1,032 out of 1,225) were among men who were 20 to 49 years old. Between 1979 and 1986, AIDS-related deaths increased from 0 to 44 (25 percent of all deaths) among men aged 20-29 years, 0 to 257 (44 percent of all deaths) among men aged 30 to 39 years, and 0 to 150 (35 percent of all deaths) among men aged 40 to 49. In 1986, for men living in San Francisco, AIDS-related diseases were the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of years of potential life lost. Because of the only moderate improvement in survival rates and the number of reported and projected cases of AIDS, the number of deaths due to AIDS is projected to increase. The demands on the health care systems and the community in San Francisco, in terms of medical costs and psychological and social impact, is enormous. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

California, AIDS patients, San Francisco

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