Perspectives on the AIDS epidemic: the experience within the United States

As of 13 June 1988 a cumulative total of 64,896 AIDS cases and 36,480 AIDS-related deaths had been reported to the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Of the 63,880 adults afflicted, 63% were homosexual or bisexual men; 19% were intravenous drug users; 7% were homosexual men who were also I.V. drug users; 4% were heterosexuals; 3% were blood transfusion recipients; 1% were hemophiliacs; and 3% were people for whom risk factor information was incomplete. Of the 1,016 children with AIDS, 77% were born to a parent who had or was at risk for AIDS, 13% were blood transfusion recipients, 6% were hemophiliacs, and 4% were children for whom risk factor information was incomplete. Serologic surveys have provided information regarding the extent of HIV infection in high-risk groups. The number of AIDS cases projected through 1992 using the methods of extrapolation and back-calculation are 310,000 and 380,000 cases, respectively.