Who is affected by AIDS?

During the 1990s, the epidemic shifted steadily toward a growing proportion of AIDS cases among black people and Hispanics and in women, and toward a decreasing proportion in MSM, although this group remains the largest single exposure group. Black people and Hispanics have been disproportionately affected since the early years of the epidemic. In absolute numbers, blacks have outnumbered whites in new AIDS diagnoses and deaths since 1996, and in the number of people living with AIDS since 1998.
During 2006 there were an estimated 38 paediatric AIDS diagnoses, compared to 195 in 1999 and 896 in 1992. The decline in paediatric AIDS incidence is associated with more HIV testing of pregnant women and the use of antiretroviral drugs such as zidovudine (AZT) by HIV-infected pregnant women and their newborn infants.
The age group 35-49 years accounted for 52% of all AIDS cases diagnosed in 2006. Nearly three-quarters of all people who have died with AIDS did not live to the age of 45.