Patterns of geographic mobility of persons with AIDS in Canada from time of AIDS index diagnosis to death.

OBJECTIVE

To characterize migration patterns of persons with AIDS in Canada during the period from AIDS diagnosis to death.

DESIGN

Descriptive, population-based study.

SETTING

Canada.

PATIENTS

Canada's AIDS Case Reporting Surveillance System (ACRSS) was linked to deaths in the Canadian Mortality Data Base (CMDB). Probabilistic linkage was based on initials, date of birth, date of death, birthplace, and location at diagnosis and at death. Analysis was restricted to AIDS cases reported from Jan. 1, 1982, to Sept. 30, 1994, and to deaths reported from Jan. 1, 1982, to Dec. 31, 1992.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Change in usual place of residence; migration rates by region and community size.

RESULTS

A total of 5755 AIDS cases recorded in the ACRSS were linked to deaths in the CMDB. Of these linked cases, 5366 (93%) included information on province or territory of usual residence or community size. A total of 160 (3.0%) persons with AIDS changed their province or territory of residence between the time of their AIDS diagnosis and death. Multivariate analysis indicated that those who changed residences between AIDS index diagnosis and death were more likely than other persons with AIDS to live in provinces other than British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec (p < 0.001), to be diagnosed earlier (p = 0.004), to be younger (p < 0.001) and to be gay or bisexual (p = 0.042).

CONCLUSIONS

Our analysis revealed that only a small proportion of persons changed their residence between AIDS diagnosis and death. Geographic mobility was the greatest among persons with AIDS residing outside of the regions where the overwhelming majority of persons with AIDS in this country reside.