Trends in incidence of AIDS associated with transfusion of blood and blood products in Europe and the United States, 1985-93

Abstract

Objective: To quantify patterns and trends in incidence of AIDS associated with transfusion of blood and its products in 14 European countries and the United States.

Design: Data were derived from the World Health Organisation's European non-aggregate AIDS dataset and, for the United States, from the Centers for Disease Control AIDS public information dataset. Rates were standardised by using the world standard populations and adjusted for reporting delays in each country.

Subjects: Cases of AIDS in patients with haemophilia and recipients of transfusions.

Results: Overall, between 1985 and 1993 almost 6000 cases of AIDS associated with transfusions were registered in the 14 European countries considered and over 8000 in the United States between 1985 and 1992. Most European countries had annual age adjusted rates lower than 0.5 per million children aged 12 or less and between 1 and 2 per million adults. The United States had rates around 1 per million children and 5 per million adults in the most recent period. For children, the highest rates were generally reached in 1985-7, whereas in adults the highest rates were in the late 1980s. France had the highest overall incidence of AIDS related to transfusion in Europe (3.3 per million). Romania had a major epidemic in children (over 30 cases per million children in 1988-90). Incidence rates of AIDS associated with transfusion were still increasing in some southern European countries in the early 1990s.

Conclusions: Apart from in France and Romania it is clear that rates of bloodborne AIDS in European countries are lower than those registered in the United States.