Demographic differences in cumulative incidence rates of transfusion-associated acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

To describe the demographic patterns of blood transfusion in the United States, the authors analyzed the cumulative incidence rate of transfusion-associated acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) (total cases reported from June 1981 through May 1993 per million population) by sex, race/ethnicity, age (at transfusion), and geographic area. Except for a high rate in infants, the rate increased with age, peaking at ages 55-64 years in men and at 65-74 years in women. Overall, the rate in males was 1.7 times that in females. By age, the rate in males was significantly higher than that in females only at ages 0-4 years and 45-84 years, when the rate in males was 2-3 times that in females. Overall, the rates in blacks and Hispanics were twice the rate in non-Hispanic whites. By age, the rates in blacks and Hispanics were significantly higher only at ages 0-4 years and 15-54 years, when they were 2-5 times those in whites, respectively. By state of residence, the incidence of transfusion-associated AIDS was correlated with the rate of all other AIDS cases (Spearman correlation coefficient, 0.83; p = 0.0001). Most of these demographic differences probably reflect differences in exposure to blood transfusion and in the incidence of conditions requiring transfusions.