Original scientific paper
Trend of Mortality Observed in a Cohort of Drug Addicts of the Metropolitan Area of Bologna, North-Eastern Italy, During a 25-Year-Period
Roberto Manfredi
Sergio Sabbatani
Daniele Agostini
Abstract
The aim of our study is to evaluate the temporal trend of deaths in a cohort of i.v. drug users (IVDU) followed in a city
of Northen Italy (Bologna), and to assess its relationship with HIV infection and AIDS, and availability of potent antiretroviral
therapy. One thousand and 214 IVDUs (mainly heroin addicts), 916 males and 298 females, attending an outpatient
service for treatment and prevention of substance abuse between 1977 and November 1996, were enrolled into our
observational cohort, and their vital status was ascertained up to December 31, 2002. The large majority of enrolled subjects
were born in the Bologna metropolitan area and surroundings; no extra-European immigrants were present. During
the observation period, 271 IVDUs (22.3%) died, 211 males (23.0%), and 60 females (20.1%). No death was recorded
before 1984. Main death causes result as follows: AIDS (52.8% of episodes), heroin overdose (22.1%), street accidents
(7.4%), decompensated liver cirrhosis (6.3%), and suicide (2.9%). The highest absolute number of deaths was observed
between years 1991 and 1996. Crude mortality rate caused by AIDS was 10.0 per 1000 for males and 13.2/1000 for females;
the rate of death due to other causes proved 11.1/1000 among males and 5.2/1000 among females. In most recent
years, a sharp decrease in the number of AIDS-related deaths, attributable to the increased use of potent antiretroviral
regimens, was recorded among IVDUs, although overall mortality rate remained appreciable.
Keywords
epidemiology; drug users; HIV infection; overdose; mortality; temporal trend; antiretroviral therapy
Hrčak ID:
27580
URI
Publication date:
12.5.2006.
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