Premature mortality related to HIV infection in California 1981-1993.

The number of years of potential life lost (YPLL) before age 65 was used to compare the effects of HIV on premature mortality versus other causes of death in California from 1981 to 1993. Using California AIDS case surveillance data, YPLL associated with HIV rose from 629 in 1981 to 120,721 in 1989, and is projected to reach 188,000 in 1993 (plausible range, 155,000-285,000). In 1989, HIV ranked fourth in YPLL behind all malignant neoplasms, traffic-related motor vehicle accidents, and all heart diseases. By 1993, if current mortality trends continue, HIV is projected to be the leading single cause of YPLL in California ahead of all malignant neoplasms (184,597 in 1989), motor vehicle-related YPLL (163,038 in 1989), and all heart diseases.