271146 Concurrent diagnoses of HIV and AIDS among males in Houston/Harris County, 2000-2009

Monday, October 29, 2012

Hafeez Rehman, MD, MPH, CPH , Bureau of Epidemiology, Houston Department of Health amnd Human Services, Houston, TX
James Gomez, MPH , Houston Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Epidemiology, Houston, TX
Karen Chronister, Ph D , Bureau of Epidemiology, Houston Department of Health & Human Services, Houston, TX
Marcia Wolverton, MPH , Bureau of Epidemiology, Houston Department of Health and Human Services, Houston, TX
Background: Progression of AIDS among individuals with unknown HIV infections, non-compliant patients and individuals with restricted or no access to medical care remains a public health concern. Given the predominance of the HIV/AIDS epidemic among the MSM risk group, understanding the morbidity in males is critical to the development of effective interventions.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we used surveillance data of male AIDS patients from 2000 to 2009 in Houston, TX. Chi square test was used to analyze the concurrent diagnoses of HIV and AIDS within 30 days and the concurrent diagnoses of AIDS and Pneumocystis Jiroveci Pneumonia (PJP) within 30 days among three race/ethnicity groups, White, Black/African American and Hispanic people.

Results: A total of 5,611 male HIV/AIDS patients were included in this analysis. Concurrent diagnoses of HIV and AIDS within 30 days is higher (P=0.00) among Hispanic men (78%) compared to White men (59%) and African American men/Black (62%). The concurrent diagnosis of PJP and AIDS is also higher (P=0.051) for Hispanic men (87%) compared to White men (82%) and African American/Black men (77%).

Conclusion/Implications: These findings indicate the importance of continued monitoring of HIV cases for diagnoses of AIDS and PJP, especially among Hispanic men. These findings also suggest a need for enhanced testing and treatment programs for Hispanic men who have higher rates of concurrent diagnoses of HIV with AIDS or PJP, who are unaware of their HIV infections, who fail to access medical care, and who fail to adhere to treatments or prophylaxes.

Learning Areas:
Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or control

Learning Objectives:
To describe the differences in morbidity of male AIDS patients among three races.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Male Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the Epidemiologist at the Bureau of Epidemiology, Houston Department of Health and Human Services. I have over eight years’ experience in research and methods and have been involved in research among populations at high-risk for HIV. I have been associated with the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance (NHBS) program in Houston since its inception in 2003. I have been the project coordinator of the NHBS for MSM, IDU and HET cycles.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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