A Survival Comparison between HIV positive U.S. Born Hispanics and Foreign-Born Hispanics in Houston, Texas 1990 - 2001

OBJECTIVE: To examine the survival profile of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection of U.S. born Hispanics in comparison to Foreign-born Hispanics with respect to basic demographic characteristics in Houston, and factors associated with early mortality.

Method: We analyzed from the Adult and Adolescent Spectrum HIV Diseases Project (1990-2001) of a cohort of 876 patients of Hispanic origin. The statistical analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier, Log Rank test, and Cox proportional regression analysis.

RESULTS: By Kaplan Meier analysis early death was associated with U.S. Born Hispanics (log rank test p = .0015). A Cox proportional regression analysis, in which gender, age, and social risk factors were introduced as controls, drug/alcohol abuse were shown to be predictors to a less favorable survival experience (Hazard Ratio [HR] = 1.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] : 1.1 – 1.6). In addition, from 1990 to 1995, higher increases in the occurrences of opportunistic infections were observed among U.S. born compared to Foreign-born Hispanics.

CONCLUSION: The findings of this study lend support to other investigations which have suggested that factors such as acculturation, coupled with a loss of support systems, may explain a negative survival outcome for U.S. born Hispanics in comparison to those that are foreign-born.