HOW IMPORTANT IS RACE ETHNICITY AS AN INDICATOR OF RISK FOR SPECIFIC AIDS-DEFINING CONDITIONS

In order to examine differences in the prevalence of AIDS-defining con ditions by race/ethnicity, we analyzed U.S. surveillance data for 203, 470 adolescents and adults diagnosed with AIDS from 1988 through 1992. A number of AIDS-indicator conditions were more common among certain racial/ethnic groups. The prevalence of extrapulmonary tuberculosis wa s higher among blacks, Hispanics, Asians/Pacific Islanders, and Americ an Indians/ Alaskan Natives than among whites. The prevalence of isosp oriasis and toxoplasmosis was higher among Hispanics than among blacks or whites. Furthermore, the likelihood of being diagnosed with extrap ulmonary tuberculosis (TB), toxoplasmosis, or isosporiasis was general ly higher among foreign-born than among U.S.-born persons of all racia l/ethnic groups. The prevalence of all malignancies was higher among w hites than among blacks or Hispanics. However, the magnitude of preval ence differences by race/ethnicity was reduced when we controlled for other demographic and exposure risk categories. Although race/ethnicit y was significantly associated with the prevalence of a number of cond itions, the relative frequency and patterns of AIDS-indicator conditio ns in different populations are probably most influenced by difference s in (1) underlying prevalence or exposure to various etiologic agents causing care and therapy for HIV-related conditions.