HIV Dashboard - Deaths in PLWH

Indicator:
(1) Reduce HIV-related deaths among persons living with HIV by at least 10% from 2007 rate (Healthy People 2020)
(2) Reduce deaths in persons living with HIV by at least 33% from 2007 levels (NHAS)

Overall Status: Achieved goal early

White MSM: On track to achieve goal
Black MSM: Achieved goal early
Hispanic MSM: Achieved goal early
Black Women who have sex with men: On track to achieve goal

* - Goal is based on 2007 death rates (not shown)
Indicator source: Healthy People 2020
Data source: Texas eHARS, 2017

Texas is very close to reaching both the Healthy People 2020 target and NHAS targets. There has been a significant decline in deaths in persons living with HIV due to improved medical care and increased uptake of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Persons living with HIV in Texas have met the target goals when considered as a total. However, Black women who have sex with men who are living with HIV have not met the target goal of a 33% reduction on all-cause deaths, and White MSM have not met the goal of a 10% reduction in deaths due to HIV. Racial disparities also persist; Black MSM living with HIV still experience higher rates of death compared to White and Hispanic MSM and Black women who have sex with men.

** note that Death data is 2 years lagged behind the most recently available surveillance data.

Thanks to improvements in HIV treatment, also known as Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), persons living with HIV can expect to live a nearly normal lifespan. Persons living with HIV who receive appropriate medical and supportive care can maintain good health throughout their lives. One indication of the success of ART is the drastically declining rate of death due to HIV. It is now more common for persons living with HIV to die of age-related, accidental, or other causes than to die of HIV-related causes.

In 2014, only 1 of every 12,000 Texans living with HIV died from HIV-related causes; this represents a 44% decrease in the rate of death due to HIV from 2007 levels. However, racial disparities in HIV-related deaths; Black MSM living with HIV are 50% more likely to die of HIV-related causes than White and Hispanic MSM. Black women who have sex with men and Black MSM living with HIV have much higher death rates compared to White and Hispanic MSM. These disparities may reflect lower levels of access to adequate medical care.

To continue the declining trend of HIV-related deaths in Texas, and eliminate racial disparities, it is critical to identify persons living with HIV as soon as possible and link them into sustained medical care.