Population-Based Estimates of Life Expectancy After HIV Diagnosis: United States 2008–2011

INTRODUCTION:Using National HIV surveillance system data, we estimated life expectancy and average years of life lost (AYLL) among persons diagnosed with HIV infection during 2008–2011. METHODS:Population-based surveillance data, restricted to persons with diagnosed HIV infection aged 13 years or older, from all 50 states and Washington, D.C. were used to estimate life expectancy after HIV diagnosis using the life table method. Generated estimates were compared with life expectancy in the general population in the same calendar year to calculate AYLL. Life expectancy and AYLL were also estimated for subgroups by age, sex, and race/ethnicity. RESULTS:The overall life expectancy after HIV diagnosis in the United States increased by 3.43 years from 25.43 (95% CI25.37 to 25.49) in 2008 to 28.86 (95% CI28.80 to 28.92) in 2011. Improvements were observed irrespective of sex, race/ethnicity, transmission category, and stage of disease at diagnosis, though the extent of improvement varied by different characteristics. Based on the life expectancy in the general population, in 2010, the AYLL were 12.8 years for males and 16.5 years for females. By race/ethnicity, on average, blacks (13.3 years) and whites (13.4 years) had fewer AYLL than Hispanics/Latinos (14.7). CONCLUSIONS:Despite improvements in life expectancy among people diagnosed with an HIV infection during 2008–2011, disparities by sex and by race/ethnicity persist. Targeted efforts should continue to further reduce disparities and improve life expectancy after HIV diagnosis.