 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Z Gaul, MSPH1, L Gardner, PhD1, Carlos Del Rio, MD2, Anita M. Loughlin, PhD, MS3, Steffanie A. Strathdee, PhD4, Pamela Anderson-Mahoney, PhD5, Eduardo Valverde, MPH6, and Wei Zhao, MD, MS7. (1) Centers for Disease Control, 1600 Clifton Road, MS E-45, Atlanta, GA 30333, 404.639.6076, ajo5@cdc.gov, (2) Emory University School of Medicine, 69 Butler Street, SE, Atlanta, GA 30303, (3) Dept. of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Rm 5010, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, (4) Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, (5) Health Research Association, 3580 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1660, Los Angeles, CA 90010, (6) Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami School of Medicine, 1801 NW 9th Avenue, Suite 313, Miami, FL 33136, (7) Comprehensive Drug Research Center, University of Miami School of Medicine, 1400 NW 10th Avenue, Miami, FL 33136
Background: Drug use and depression may impede HIV-positive persons from entering medical care but few studies have been able to address this issue.
Methods: ARTAS is a randomized trial comparing intensive case management to standard-of-care referral to facilitate entry into care of recently diagnosed HIV-positive persons. We analyzed the association of baseline demographic factors, drug use, depression (CES-D score ³ 16), and time since HIV diagnosis with participant’s report of HIV care. Adjusted odd ratios (ORadj) were calculated between predictors and reported use of an HIV care provider (yes/no) in those completing the ARTAS six-month interview.
Results: Of the 270 persons interviewed at six months, 186 (69%) stated that they had received HIV care since the baseline visit. In multivariable analyses, age, gender, injection drug use in the past 30 days, and race/ethnicity were not significantly associated (all p > 0.25) with HIV care access; but recent crack users (ORadj 0.4, 95% CI =0.2, 0.9) and depressed persons (ORadj 0.6, 95% CI =0.3, 1.0) were less likely to enter care. Persons who entered ARTAS < 6 months after HIV diagnosis were more likely than those > 6 months post diagnosis to access HIV care (ORadj 2.5, 95% CI =1.3, 4.8).
Discussion: These initial six months’ results of the ARTAS study suggest that fewer persons who were depressed or recent crack users were in HIV care. However, those who entered the study within six months of an HIV diagnosis were twice as likely as others to receive HIV care.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.