PREMATURE MORTALITY IN ITALY DURING THE FIRST DECADE OF THE AIDS EPIDEMIC - 1984-1993

Background. AIDS has become a leading cause of premature mortality in many countries, owing to the decline in other major causes of prematur e death and the increase in AIDS itself. This study was carried out to determine the trends in premature mortality due to selected causes in Italy. Methods. Data from the Italian Mortality Data Base, for the te n years from 1984 to 1993 (the first decade of the AIDS epidemic) were analysed. Premature mortality was measured in terms of years of poten tial life lost before the age of 70 years (YPLL), excluding infant mor tality. Trends in premature mortality due to AIDS were compared with t hose of the principal causes of premature death: lung cancer, colon-re ctum cancer, stomach cancer, leukaemia, female breast cancer, uterine cancer, myocardial infarction, stroke, liver diseases, suicide, road a ccidents and overdose. Results. In this period there has been a marked increase in premature mortality from AIDS both among males aged 1-69 years (from a rate of YPLL of 0.01 per 1000 in 1984 to 3.71 in 1993) a nd females of the same age group (from 0 deaths in 1984 to a rate of Y PLL of 1.02). Throughout the same period all the other causes of prema ture death have been declining, with the exception of suicide and over dose among males, and overdose and lung cancer among females, For peop le aged 25-44 years, AIDS has become the greatest cause of premature d eath. The increasing trend in premature mortality due to AIDS is most pronounced in the northern and central areas of Italy. Conclusions. AI DS is the leading cause of death among males aged 25-44 years in Italy and is having an important impact on premature mortality among female s in the same age group.