Mortality trend due to HIV/AIDS related diseases and conditions according to age and sex in 1997-2016

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Mortality due to diseases and conditions related to HIV/AIDS is one of the most relevant indicators to monitor the evolution of this health problem. The objective of the work was to describe the behavior of mortality related to HIV/AIDS according to age and sex in Northeastern Argentina (NEA) and in Argentina as a whole during 1997-2016. METHODS: An ecological design was used, including time series analysis. Mortality rates for HIV/AIDS during 1997-2016 in the NEA region and Argentina by sex and age were calculated. Segmented Poisson regression was applied for trend analysis, and annual percentage change (APC) was calculated. p values lower than 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: In the NEA, the trend of the age-adjusted rate showed an increase throughout the period, with an APC of 1.9% (CI95%: 0.1 / 4.0; p<0.05), while in Argentina a downward trend was found, with an APC of -2.6% (CI95%: -3.7 / -1.5; p<0.05). Unlike Argentina as a whole, mortality in NEA was increasing in both sexes, with a greater increase in women. In both locations, mortality tended to decrease in  people under 25 years old, but it was stable or increased in the other age groups. DISCUSSION: The pattern of mortality from  HIV/AIDS in NEA is not the same as in Argentina as a whole, evidencing the need to implement health policies that account for these differences.