Late HIV Diagnosis and Its Impact on AIDS Progression among Injection Drug Users
Author Information
Author(s): Grigoryan Anna, Hall H. Irene, Durant Tonji, Wei Xiangming
Primary Institution: Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Hypothesis
What factors are associated with late HIV diagnosis and disease progression among injection drug users?
Conclusion
A significant number of injection drug users received a late HIV diagnosis, which negatively impacted their survival rates.
Supporting Evidence
- 42.2% of injection drug users were diagnosed late, meaning they progressed to AIDS within 12 months of their HIV diagnosis.
- Survival rates for IDUs were lower compared to other transmission categories.
- Older age and lower CD4+ T-cell counts at diagnosis were associated with shorter survival.
Takeaway
Many people who use injection drugs find out they have HIV too late, which makes it harder for them to stay healthy.
Methodology
Data from 33 states were analyzed to determine the proportion of IDUs with late HIV diagnosis and factors affecting disease progression using Kaplan-Meier survival methods.
Potential Biases
Potential biases due to missing data on risk factors and CD4+ T-cell counts.
Limitations
The data may not be nationally representative, and there was missing information on risk factors and CD4+ T-cell counts.
Participant Demographics
Participants included injection drug users aged 13 years and older from diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.0001
Confidence Interval
95% CI, 87.1–87.4
Statistical Significance
p<0.0001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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