[Mortality and HIV infection in a group of intravenous heroin addicts from 1985 to 1989].

One hundred and eighty-seven heroin addicts resident in Valle Seriana Superiore were monitored from July 1985 to July 1989. This sample was representative of a total population of drug addicts estimated at some 350 subjects, 90 of whom (48.1%) were HIV-positive in Elisa assays and Western blot control tests. Six patients (3.2%) died; 3 of whom (3%) were HIV-positive and 3 (3.3%) were HIVab-negative. The most frequent cause of death (59%) was heroin overdose, which occurred in both HIV-positive and negative subjects, showing that the fear of contracting the disease or its possible evolution is not a deterrent in modifying risk behaviour. During the four years of the study, 5 (5.5%) of the HIV-positive patients developed confirmed AIDS. Only one patient died from AIDS, thus confirming the current risk of death as being 1.1% in seropositive patients. An increase in mortality due to AIDS is expected in the future, in line with the current prevalent mortality rate due to heroin overdose.