The report assesses trends in the number of people infected with HIV/AIDS and how many were hospitalized over the past two decades. It finds that HIV is not the death sentence it once was as more people on medication live longer and healthier lives.
However the number of cases continues to grow. In 1988, there were 13 persons living with HIV/AIDS per 10,000 population in California and by 2008 this rate had doubled to 28. Initially it was highest for Blacks 22, followed by Whites 16, Hispanics 8, Native Americans 7 and Asian/Pacific Islanders 3. By 2008, it remained highest for Blacks 91, followed by Whites, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Asian/Pacific Islanders 33, 23, 23, and 7, respectively.
Risk of death was higher for older patients (age 40+ years), Hispanics and non-Hispanic Whites, beginning in the early 2000s, and those with infectious disease or additional chronic health problems.
The report found the likelihood of having one or more of the opportunistic infections was higher for Asian/Pacific Islanders (most years) and for Hispanics from 1994 an onward.
From 1988 to 2008, hospitalization rates have remained consistently highest for Blacks. The groups with the second highest were Whites (most years) and Hispanics (from 1996 onward).
Source: Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, “Trends in the Hospitalization of Persons Living with HIV Infection and AIDS in California, 1988 to 2008”, November 2011.