Trends in AIDS mortality among residents of Puerto Rico and among Puerto Rican immigrants and other Hispanic residents of New York City, 1981-1989.

This study contrasts the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome mortality experience of residents of Puerto Rico with that of New York City residents identified as either Puerto Rico-born and non-Puerto Rico-born Hispanics. Portions of the mortality data examined in this investigation update and extend the data previously published describing selected groups in New York City through the end of 1987 but which did not consider residents of Puerto Rico. The nine-year cumulative, age-adjusted acquired immunodeficiency syndrome mortality rate for males was found to be 5 x higher among Puerto Rico-born New York City residents compared with residents of Puerto Rico (702/100,000 v 141/100,000) and 1 1/2 x greater than that of other male Hispanic New York City residents (447/100,000). In New York City, Puerto Rico-born females had higher age-adjusted mortality rates (121/100,000) than female residents of Puerto Rico (25/100,000) and other female Hispanic residents of New York City (70/100,000). Within five of the six age categories considered, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome mortality rates for adult males and females are higher for Puerto-Rico-born, New York City residents. Limitations of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome incidence data, as they pertain to persons of Puerto Rican ancestry, are discussed.