Abstract

BACKGROUND:

New York City (NYC) pediatricians are now caring for fewer HIV-infected infants and more school age children and adolescents than earlier in the epidemic.

METHODS:

Clinical, laboratory and demographic data were abstracted from medical records at 10 NYC centers participating in the CDC Pediatric Spectrum of HIV Disease project. Pediatric AIDS cases and HIV-related deaths reported to the NYC Department of Health were examined.

RESULTS:

Median age of HIV-infected children in care increased from 3 years in 1989 to 1991 to 6 years in 1995 to 1998. The number of HIV-infected women giving birth in NYC declined 50% from 1990 to 1997 (1630 to 831); increasing numbers were identified prenatally (14% in 1989; 78% after 1995); and most received prenatal zidovudine prophylaxis (73% in 1997). Estimated perinatal transmission decreased to 10% by 1997. Improved identification of seropositive status in infants was associated with an increased proportion of infected infants receiving Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) prophylaxis, 84% in 1997. AIDS free survival was longer for children born 1995 to 1998 than for those born before 1995, P = 0.004. In 1998 among children with advanced immunosuppression (CDC category 3), 66% were prescribed 3 or more antiretroviral medicines and 88% received PCP prophylaxis. Citywide AIDS cases and HIV-related deaths fell precipitously beginning in 1996.

CONCLUSIONS:

Based on the observations of this study, the cohort of NYC HIV-infected children in care is aging, associated with a decline in new HIV infections, high rates of PCP prophylaxis and increased time to AIDS. Falling HIV-related deaths citywide support these observations.