Background: To know the importance of AIDS in premature mortality in Spain in relation to the remaining causes of deaths.
Methods: Deaths of patients with AIDS were obtained from the National AIDS Registry and deaths from other causes from the official mortality statistics. The potential years of life lost (PYLL) were compared from birth until the age of 65 in AIDS patients between 1981-1990 with those observed as the principal causes of premature death in 1980-1988. Similar comparisons were carried out for the three Autonomic Communities with the greatest incidence of AIDS (Catalonia, Madrid and the Basque Country).
Results: In 1988, there were 670 deaths (21,987 PYLL) in patients with AIDS and in 1990 this number almost doubled with 1312 (42,543 PYLL). In 1988 the PYLL in AIDS cases were situated at the ninth level for cause of premature death (eight in males) and in 1990 it was estimated to be in the eight place, near lung cancer, hepatic cirrhosis and cerebrovascular disease. In 1988, Madrid which has the highest rate adjusted by age of PYLL in AIDS cases, was placed in sixth place and was expected to reach second place in 1990.
Conclusions: Death by AIDS has rapidly increased while death by the remaining cases has remained much more stable with AIDS nearing the level of the main causes of premature death. The need to consider AIDS as one of the health problems which takes priority is confirmed.