Update: HIV-2 infection - United States

Article Abstract:

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) causes AIDS, autoimmune deficiency disease, for which there is no cure. Human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) was first diagnosed in West African prostitutes in 1985 and was reported in two West Africans with AIDS in 1986. One year later a case of HIV-2 infection was confirmed in the United States in a West African woman who had AIDS; six additional people have since been found to carry the HIV-2 infection. Their cases are described in this article. All of these patients are West Africans and appear to have contracted the infection through heterosexual contact with other infected West Africans. Five of the patients were diagnosed in northeastern states, reflecting the immigration pattern of West African expatriates in the US. The importance of accurate diagnosis is discussed in a review of the currently available methods of screening and testing for HIV-1 and HIV-2. It is concluded that persons from West Africa who have evidence of HIV infection must be evaluated for HIV-2, regardless of other test results, and that the same preventive measures are applicable to both HIV-1 and HIV-2 infections since the modes of transmission are likely to be the same. The CDC, Centers for Disease Control, is monitoring the epidemiology of HIV-2 through case studies and blood testing of identified populations such as Peace Corps volunteers returning from West Africa and patients in sexually transmitted disease clinic. Surveillance at blood donor facilities relies on testing, but few potential blood donors with HIV-2 are expected because the FDA, Food and Drug Administration, recommendations now exclude donors who have recently immigrated from sub-Saharan Africa or have had recent sexual contact with West Africans.

Health aspects, Case studies, Diagnosis, HIV (Viruses), HIV, Africa, AIDS (Disease), New England, Northeastern United States, West Africa, Middle Atlantic States

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National Mortality Followback Survey: characteristics of persons who died from diseases of the heart - United States, 1986

Article Abstract:

The National Mortality Followback Survey collects information that is not typically available on death certificates about the characteristics and circumstances of people who have died. This is the fifth random survey conducted by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control). It focuses on the last year of life of persons 25 years of age or older in 1986 who died from heart disease, 36 percent of all deaths in the United States. Fifty-three percent of women in the study had annual incomes of less than $9,000, compared with 35 percent of the men. The survey found that 32 percent of the women lived alone or with an unrelated person; 22 percent lived in a nursing home; for the men these figures were 20 percent and 8 percent. More women than men were reported to have received assistance with activities of daily living, such as dressing, and with home medical care, such as taking medicines. Many of the decedents had multiple medical conditions, including high blood pressure, angina, diabetes, stroke, emphysema and cancer. With the exception of angina and respiratory problems, these illnesses were more common in women. Medicare was the source of medical payments for more than half of the decedents. Twenty-three percent of men used private insurance/HMOs (health maintenance organizations) while only 14 percent of women did so. The findings concerning the financial status, living conditions and poor health of women are, in part, reflective of their age and marital status at the time of death. Almost 70 percent of the female decedents were 75 years of age or older, compared to less than 50 percent of males. Women were also three times more likely to be widowed.

Research, Mortality, Demographic aspects, Heart diseases, Public health, Health surveys

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Cigarette brand use among adult smokers - United States, 1986

Article Abstract:

Data from the Adult Use of Tobacco Survey (AUTS) concerning cigarette brand usage are presented. AUTS was a telephone survey of 13,031 people aged 17 or older carried out during a three-month period in 1986. The survey concerned subjects' knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to tobacco use. Results indicated that 26.5 percent of adults smoked cigarettes at that time. Smokers were asked what brand they favored. Twelve brands accounted for 75 percent of all cigarettes smoked: Marlboro, Winston, Salem, Kool, and Newport were the top five. Marlboro smokers were more than twice as numerous as Winston smokers. Black respondents tended to smoke mentholated cigarettes; 55 percent said they smoked either Newport, Kool, or Salem (all mentholated). More younger smokers than older used Marlboro. More educated people smoked Merit or Kent; less educated people smoked Newport and Pall Mall. The results are consistent with market share data on cigarette brand usage. Awareness of people's cigarette choices may help in designing stop-smoking programs and educational materials. For instance, an anti- Marlboro campaign that attacks the self-sufficient, strong image of the Marlboro smoker has been mounted among teenagers in a California school. Since only 6 percent of black smokers use Marlboro, this campaign would not be a top priority for a smoking-education program in a school with many black students. People who use low-tar cigarettes may be more receptive to information about reasons to quit smoking entirely. A future report will concern tobacco use among people aged 12 to 18. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Usage, Surveys, Smokers, Cigarettes

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