Utilization of HIV/AIDS treatment services: comparing injecting drug users and other clients

This study compared healthcare utilization by injection drug users (IDUs) and non-IDUs. Data were abstracted from patients' medical records, admitted on HIV/AIDS treatment centers, between 1986 and 2002, forming a non-concurrent cohort study. Variables included: sociodemographics, HIV/AIDS exposure group, healthcare utilization (consultations, procedures, and prescriptions). Descriptive analyses included age-period and cohort effects. Out of 170 patients, with an average age of 30 years, 39.4% were IDUs, 71.8% were males and had low levels of education. At the first consultation, 86.5% neither received an ARV prescription nor had a request for CD4 or viral load. Injection drug users, as compared to non-IDUs, were less likely to receive ARV prescriptions and requests for CD4 lymphocyte and viral load counts, even though the number of consultations did not differ between the two groups. Healthcare utilization increased in calendar-year in the non-IDUs group, parallel to the implementation of the Brazilian health policy of universal care. However, this favorable trend was not observed among IDUs. Differential outcomes for HIV/AIDS among IDUs, towards worse prognosis, suggest difficulties in terms of adherence and follow-up of ARV therapy in this population.

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Informal Caregiver Characteristics Associated with Viral Load Suppression Among Current or Former Injection Drug Users Living with HIV/AIDS

AIDS and Behavior ◽

10.1007/s10461-015-1090-2 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 19 (11) ◽

pp. 2117-2122 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Mary M. Mitchell ◽

Allysha C. Robinson ◽

Trang Q. Nguyen ◽

Amy R. Knowlton

Keyword(s):

Viral Load ◽

Injection Drug Users ◽

Drug Users ◽

Informal Caregiver ◽

Injection Drug ◽

Viral Load Suppression ◽

Living With Hiv ◽

Hiv Aids

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Risk factors and cumulative incidence of anaemia among HIV-infected injection drug users

International Journal of STD & AIDS ◽

10.1258/0956462021924758 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 119-123 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Richard D Semba ◽

Nina Shah ◽

David Vlahov

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Cumulative Incidence ◽

Injection Drug Users ◽

Drug Users ◽

Female Gender ◽

Injection Drug ◽

Cd4 Lymphocyte Count ◽

Increase Odds Ratio ◽

Cd4 Lymphocyte

Risk factors for anaemia and cumulative incidence of anaemia were examined in a longitudinal cohort study of 622 injection drug users (IDUs) (8885 visits) in Baltimore, Maryland, from 1988 to 2000. At enrolment, 19.6% subjects were anaemic (16.1% of men and 30.5% of women, P<0.0001) and 8.4% had microcytic anaemia (6.7% of men and 14.0% of women, P=0.006). Cumulative incidence of anaemia was 82.2% (87.9% of men and 100% of women, P<0.0001) during a median of 7.5 years follow-up. Factors associated with anaemia included age (per 5 year increase, odds ratio (OR)=1.22; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.10, 1.36), female gender (OR=1.62; 95% CI: 1.16, 2.27), CD4+ lymphocyte count <200 cells/ µl (OR 1.85; 95% CI: 1.52, 2.24), weight loss (OR 1.55; 95% CI: 1.26, 1.91), oral thrush (OR 1.53; 95% CI: 1.21, 1.94), Mycobacterium avium complex infection (OR 1.30; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.64), and zidovudine use (OR 1.24; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.48). Higher body mass index (OR 0.92; 95% CI: 0.88, 0.95) and marijuana use (OR 0.75; 95% CI: 0.61, 0.92) were associated with a lower risk of anaemia. The cumulative incidence of anaemia is high among IDUs, and women are at highest risk of anaemia.

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RATES OF HIV/AIDS CARE AND ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY RESPONSE AMONG ACTIVE INJECTION DRUG USERS

Addiction ◽

10.1111/j.1360-0443.2007.01975.x ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 102 (9) ◽

pp. 1503-1505 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Keyword(s):

Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Injection Drug Users ◽

Drug Users ◽

Therapy Response ◽

Injection Drug ◽

Hiv Aids

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Sociodemographic and Behavioral Characteristics Associated with Timeliness and Retention in a 6-Month Follow-up Study of High-Risk Injection Drug Users

American Journal of Epidemiology ◽

10.1093/aje/kwg065 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 157 (10) ◽

pp. 930-939 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

A. Messiah

Keyword(s):

High Risk ◽

Injection Drug Users ◽

Drug Users ◽

Injection Drug ◽

Behavioral Characteristics ◽

Follow Up Study

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Evaluation of laboratory markers of progression of HIV disease to death

Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical ◽

10.1590/s0037-86822011005000062 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 44 (6) ◽

pp. 657-660 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Graça Maria de Castro Viana ◽

Maria do Desterro Soares Brandão Nascimento ◽

Aila de Menezes Ferreira ◽

Érica Milena Fernandes Rabelo ◽

João Arnaud Diniz Neto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Viral Load ◽

Hiv Disease ◽

Significant Relation ◽

Chi Square ◽

Laboratory Markers ◽

Cd4 Lymphocyte Count ◽

Chi Square Test ◽

Cd4 Lymphocyte ◽

Hiv Aids

INTRODUCTION: One of the important current problems in HIV/AIDS infection is the establishment of epidemiological and laboratorial prognostic parameters during patient follow-up. This study aimed at analyzing the evolution of laboratory tests: CD4 lymphocyte count, viral load, hemoglobin (Hb), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and the epidemiological variables sex and age as prognostic factors for survival in progression to death among AIDS patients. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted using analysis of medical records, and prospective 24-month follow-up of patients with HIV/ AIDS attended at the President Vargas Hospital Outpatient Clinic, a reference center in HIV/ AIDS attendance in the State of Maranhão, Brazil. The study analyzed patients aged 10 to 60 years old, who manifested AIDS and who were not using antiretroviral therapy or had used it for less than 5 years. The Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The sample included 100 patients - 57 were current outpatients, and 43 had died. The variables viral load (p=0.726), ALT (p=0.314), sex (p=0.687), and age (p=0.742) were analyzed, and no evidence of association between them and worst prognosis was observed. CONCLUSIONS: A significant relation was verified between low Hb levels (p=0.000) and CD4 (p=0.000) and shorter survival.

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