[Epidemiology of HIV infection and AIDS in Navarra].
The incidence of AIDS in the countries of Western Europe has been declining since 1996. The new antiretrovirals delay the progression of AIDS. Navarra has a double system for the information of HIV infections and of AIDS cases. Up until December 1997, 605 cases of AIDS were notified in Navarra, 40 of which corresponded to the final year, 1997. The annual rate of incidence was 76.4 cases per million inhabitants in 1997, and Navarra occupied the tenth place by autonomous community. In 1996 and 1997, the incidence of AIDS cases diminished in Navarra with respect to previous years. At the European level, the rates of Navarra, as is the case with the rates for Spain, are higher than those observed in all of the countries of the European Union. The most frequent category of transmission is the use of intravenous drugs in 73.2% of the cases. 13.4% are due to transmission by heterosexual contact and 6.1% to homosexual practices between males. Between 1985 and December 1997, 2,239 people were diagnosed with HIV infection in Navarra. HIV infection presents two high points in the years 1987 (249 cases) and 1991 (236 cases). Starting from the year 1992 the diagnoses diminish: 210, 173, 146, 137, 95 and 82 cases in the year 1997. We have observed a decline in the number of cases amongst users of intravenous drugs and an increase of the cases of sexual transmission, especially amongst women.