Drug Use and HIV Treatment in Two U.S. Clinics
Author Information
Author(s): Catherine C. McGowan, David D. Weinstein, Charles P. Samenow, Samuel E. Stinnette, Gema Barkanic, Peter F. Rebeiro, Timothy R. Sterling, Richard D. Moore, Todd Hulgan
Primary Institution: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Hypothesis
How does drug use affect the receipt of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) among HIV-infected individuals?
Conclusion
Individuals with a history of injection drug use (IDU) were less likely to receive HAART and had less cumulative time on HAART compared to those without a drug use history.
Supporting Evidence
- 1745 persons were included from the CCC cohort, with 268 having a history of IDU.
- 1977 persons were included from the JHU cohort, with 731 having a history of IDU.
- IDU was associated with decreased HAART receipt overall.
- NIDU was also associated with decreased HAART receipt.
Takeaway
People who use drugs, especially those who inject them, have a harder time getting and staying on HIV treatment.
Methodology
The study analyzed data from two cohorts of HIV-infected individuals, assessing their drug use history and HAART receipt.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to differences in data collection methods between the two clinics.
Limitations
The study is observational and may be affected by biases in self-reported drug use.
Participant Demographics
The CCC cohort was predominantly white and male with a median age of 37, while the JHU cohort was predominantly black and male with a median age of 39.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.003
Confidence Interval
[0.45–0.84]
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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