• Am. J. Epidemiol. 1986 Jun 1; 123 (6): 1013-25.

AbstractSince the epidemic of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) was first recognized in 1981, New York City has had more cases and a higher incidence than any other city in the world. As of July 31, 1985, 4,133 cases had been reported to the New York City Department of Health, a cumulative incidence of 59 cases per 100,000. The incidence of disease continues to increase with each year of the epidemic, with 28% more cases diagnosed and reported in the first six months of 1985 (874 cases) than in a similar period of 1984 (680 cases). The authors examined surveillance data of the New York City Department of Health for 3,145 AIDS cases for the period 1981-1984 and for which reporting has been completed. As in the rest of the United States, the groups most affected include homosexual or bisexual men who do not use intravenous drugs (1,761 cases (56%)) and male and female intravenous drug users (1,029 cases (33%)). The percentage of cases represented by intravenous drug users in New York City is higher than in the United States as a whole, and 79% of all intravenous users with AIDS have had residence in New York City. Major changes observed over the period 1981-1984 include a decrease in the proportion of homosexual and bisexual men (63% to 56%); an increase in the proportion of intravenous drug users (13% to 29%); and the appearance of cases in three new groups at risk: children of parents in risk groups, transfusion recipients, and female sexual contacts of men in risk groups. The epidemic trends for the latter three groups appear to be similar to, but two years later than those seen for the epidemic in homosexual and bisexual men and intravenous drug users in New York City.

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