A poster from India characterised the higher rates of mortality related to HIV and IDU in Chennai.

Of 1158 IDUs recruited between April 2005 and May 2006, 293 (25%) were HIV-positive. 70 deaths were observed over 2168 person-years (PY) of follow-up (Incidence Rate [IR]: 3.2; 95%CI: 2.5 – 4.1). The risk of mortality among HIV positive IDUs (IR: 5.7 per 100 PY) was more than twice that of negative IDUs (IR: 2.3 per 100 PY).

This association persisted after adjustment for age, hepatitis C virus status, injection frequency, types of drugs injected, alcohol use, and incarceration. The leading causes of mortality in both HIV negative and positive IDUs were overdose (n=19), tuberculosis (n=12) and accident/trauma-related (n=9). Death rates from overdose and tuberculosis were higher in HIV positive than negative IDUs, though not statistically significant. Only 4 deaths in HIV positive IDUs were identified as being AIDS-related (IR: 0.7 per 100 PY).

Ref:
Solomon SS et al. High incidence of mortality in a cohort of HIV positive and negative injection drug users in Chennai, India. Abstract MOPO0244.
http://www.aids2008.org/Pag/Abstracts.aspx?AID=8338