Between 1980 and 1998, AIDS cases among people who are 13 years old or over in the State of Sao Paulo were reported by different AIDS-case definitions. The objective of this paper is to estimate the trend of reported AIDS cases according to the three main Brazilian AIDS-case definitions. Utilizing the database from the Brazilian National Coordination of STD/AIDS, the study used CD4 T-lymphocytes count of cases reported by CDC/Adapted, PAHO/Caracas/Rio and "CD4" criteria; and the distribution of cases of AIDS per exposure category according to these criteria. The medians for CD4 T-lymphocytes count according to the CDC/Adapted, PAHO/Caracas/Rio and "CD4" criteria are respectively 86 cells/mm³, 135 cells/mm³ and 215 cells/mm³. According to the CDC/Adapted and PAHO/Caracas/Rio criteria, the number of new AIDS cases among homosexuals and IDU has been decreasing since 1992 and among heterosexual men and women since 1996. The "CD4" criteria should not be utilized for analyzing the trend of AIDS between 1980 and 1988. The analysis of the trend of AIDS cases, considering the HIV clinical latency period without AIDS, reveals the decrease of new infections among homosexual men and IDU since 1985. The reduction of new AIDS cases among heterosexual men and women from 1996 on can be reflecting both the anti-retroviral therapy in process and the prevention measures for heterosexuals since 1990, when AIDS stopped being considered a disease that affects essentially homosexuals and IDU.
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; Disease notification; Public health
