912 Comparison of Rates of Death Due to HIV Disease among U.S. Hispanics of Different National Origins in 2000 R. Selik* CDC, Atlanta, GA
Background: On U.S. death certificates, completeness of reporting of Hispanic ethnicity and its subcategories of national origin (birth place or ancestry) has improved. Year 2000 national census data for these subcategories allow calculation of HIV death rates for U.S. Hispanic populations of different national origins.
Methods: Data on deaths in 2000 due to HIV disease were obtained from death certificates filed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. To reduce misclassification of national origin, analysis was restricted to 25 states in which less than 15% of Hispanic decedents were of unknown or other national origin. Year 2000 census data on U.S. Hispanic populations were obtained from the Bureau of the Census. Age-adjusted death rates were calculated using the year 2000 U.S. standard population. To analyze rates by region, the states were divided in two groups: 1) 10 states in the Northeast and Midwest, and 2)15 states in the South and West.
Results: A total of 1,768 deaths due to HIV disease in 2000 were reported among 30,104,566 U.S. Hispanics in 25 states. The age-adjusted rate of death due to HIV per 100,000 population was significantly higher among U.S. Hispanics of Puerto Rican ethnicity (29.8 [95% CI: 27.6-31.9]) than among those of Cuban (7.7 [6.2-9.3]), Central and South American (7.8 [6.7-8.9]), or Mexican (4.0 [3.6-4.3]) ethnicity; and, by the same data, significantly lower among Hispanics of Mexican ethnicity than among each of the other three ethnic subcategories. The ethnic differences between the rates were greater in the Northeast and Midwest than in the South and West, but the same order was basically maintained. Northeast/Midwest: Puerto Rican 36.7 (33.9-39.6), Cuban 11.5 (6.7-17.3), Central/South American 12.5 (10.1-14.9), Mexican 2.4 (1.3-3.4). South/West: Puerto Rican 13.8 (11.0-16.5), Cuban 7.1 (5.5-8.9), Central/South American 5.0 (4.0-6.2), and Mexican 4.2 (3.8-4.6).
Conclusions: U.S. Hispanic populations differ regarding their risk of death due to HIV disease, with death rates being highest among those of Puerto Rican ethnicity and lowest among those of Mexican ethnicity. Regional differences alone do not explain these ethnic differences. Their causes should be explored and they should be taken into account in prevention strategies.
