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Shifting Sands: Changing Regional and Gender-specific Patterns of HIV/AIDS Mortality in Canada, 1987 to 2008

  • Quantitative Research
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Abstract

Objective

To assess patterns of HIV-related mortality by period, gender and age group in Canada from 1987 to 2008.

Methods

We applied standard demographic techniques to assess changes in HIV/AIDS mortality over five time periods: 1987–1991, 1992–1996, 1997–2001, 2002–2006, and 2007–2008. HIV/AIDS-related mortality was based on deaths in which HIV infection or AIDS was reported as the underlying cause of death. Population figures were obtained from annual estimates. Age-, sex- and province-specific crude and standardized HIV/AIDS mortality rates and ratios were used to examine changes in mortality.

Results

In the period from 1987 to 2008, there were 1 7,287 HIV/AIDS-related deaths; of these, 15,587 (90.2%) occurred among men and 1,700 (9.8%) among women. Standardized and age-specific death rates were generally higher in men than women. Among men, rates of mortality were highest in Quebec and British Columbia; and among women, rates increased over time in British Columbia and the Prairies and decreased in Quebec. In general, rates of death were highest in 1992–1996 and lowest in the latest period.

Conclusion

We observed a sharp decline in mortality rates with the introduction of HAART; however, the rates were higher among men in Quebec and British Columbia and among women in British Columbia, Quebec and the Prairies.

Résumé

Objectif

Analyser les courbes de la mortalité liée au VIH par période, par sexe et par groupe d’âge au Canada entre 1987 et 2008.

Méthode

Nous avons appliqué des techniques démographiques standard pour analyser les changements dans la mortalité due au VIH et au sida au cours de cinq périodes: 1987–1991, 1992–1996, 1997–2001, 2002–2006 et 2007–2008. La «mortalité liée au VIH et au sida» désigne les décès pour lesquels l’infection à VIH ou le sida était déclaré(e) comme cause de décès sous-jacente. Nos données démographiques proviennent d’estimations annuelles. Les rapports et les taux (bruts et standardisés) de mortalité due au VIH et au sida selon l’âge, le sexe et la province ont servi à examiner les changements dans la mortalité.

Résultats

Entre 1987 et 2008, il y a eu 17 287 décès liés au VIH et au sida; sur ces décès, 15 587 (90,2 %) sont survenus chez des hommes et 1 700 (9,8 %) chez des femmes. Les taux de mortalité standardisés et par âge étaient généralement plus élevés chez les hommes que chez les femmes. Chez les hommes, les taux de mortalité les plus élevés ont été déclarés au Québec et en Colombie-Britannique; et chez les femmes, les taux ont augmenté au fil du temps en Colombie-Britannique et dans les Prairies et diminué au Québec. Dans l’ensemble, les taux de mortalité les plus élevés ont été observés en 1 992–1996, et les plus faibles, durant la période la plus récente.

Conclusion

Nous avons observé une baisse marquée des taux de mortalité avec l’introduction de la TAHA; cependant, les taux étaient supérieurs chez les hommes au Québec et en Colombie-Britannique et chez les femmes en Colombie-Britannique, au Québec et dans les Prairies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University / BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, 608-1081 Burrard Street, BC, V6Z 1Y6, Vancouver, Canada

    Lindsay M. Belvedere, Caroline L. Miller PhD &  Robert S. Hogg PhD (Professor)

Authors
  1. Lindsay M. Belvedere
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  2. Caroline L. Miller PhD
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  3. Robert S. Hogg PhD
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Correspondence to Robert S. Hogg PhD.

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Conflict of Interest: None to declare.

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Belvedere, L.M., Miller, C.L. & Hogg, R.S. Shifting Sands: Changing Regional and Gender-specific Patterns of HIV/AIDS Mortality in Canada, 1987 to 2008. Can J Public Health 103, 202–206 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03403813

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03403813

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