Characterization of the Epidemiological Profile and Survival of Children with AIDS in Santa Catarina, Brazil, 1988 - 2013

Background: It is estimated that survival of children with perinatally transmitted acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in Brazil is around 60 months, and an upward trend has been shown over recent years. The reduction in mortality rates in Brazilian children is mainly attributed to the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy. Objectives: The aim of this study was to characterize the epidemiological profile and survival rates among children diagnosed with AIDS in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of survival in children aged under 13 years who were reported to have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in the state of Santa Catarina between 1988 and 2013. The cases were selected from the records of HIV infection cases reported by the Information System for Notifiable and by the Mortality Information System of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Results: We studied 990 children whose median age at diagnosis was 26 months. Among those who died, the survival time after diagnosis was 39.7 monthson average, with a median of 16 months. Children'smeanage at death attributed to AIDS was 73.8 months, with a median of 55 months. Of the 990 surveyed children, the median survival time was 263 months, and 14.7% died of AIDS. The chance of survival at 60 months was estimated to be 88.1%. Conclusions: The studied indicators suggest that the AIDS epidemic in children showed a decreasing tendency in terms of the incidence and mortality rates with tendency, along with an unexpected growth trend in lethality rate in the last period.