[AIDS epidemic in The Netherlands: current developments in transmission route, age and nationality].
OBJECTIVE
To document the recent developments in the course of the AIDS epidemic in the Netherlands, 1982-1995.


METHODS
Descriptive.


METHODS
National Institute of Public Health and Environment, Bilthoven, Municipal Health Service, Amsterdam, and Inspectorate of Public Health, Rijswijk, the Netherlands.


METHODS
Based on the new AIDS patients reported to the Inspectorate of Public Health, the incidence figures were calculated by risk group (homo/bisexual men, intravenous drug users and heterosexual men and women), by birth cohort defined by 5 successive years of birth, and by nationality, in order to characterise sub-epidemics.


RESULTS
Among homo/bisexual men AIDS incidence has been stabilizing in recent years. Among intravenous drug users and heterosexuals incidence continues to rise but at a low level compared with homo/bisexual men. Among homo/bisexual men and intravenous drug users mean age at AIDS diagnosis is rising in conjunction with reduced incidence among young persons born in 1965-1969 when compared with the incidence among persons born in 1960-1964 when at the same age. By contrast, among heterosexuals a decline in mean age at diagnosis is observed and this decline coincides with undiminished rise of incidence among persons born in 1965-1969. Among heterosexual patients an increasing and disproportionate number have the nationality of a sub-Saharan African country.


CONCLUSIONS
Future AIDS incidence among homo/bisexual men and intravenous drug users will probably be lower than it currently is. Regarding heterosexuals the undiminished growth of the number of young AIDS patients and the increasing proportion of patients from abroad make such an assessment more difficult.
Termorshuizen
F
F
Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu, Centrum voor Infectieziekten Epidemiologie, Bilthoven.
Houweling
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H
Bindels
P J
PJ
van Wijngaarden
J K
JK
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000635:transmission; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications; D065227:Transfusion Reaction