Differences in access to zidovudine (AZT) among symptomatic HIV-infected persons.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate socioeconomic factors that determine whether symptomatic HIV-infected persons are offered zidovudine (AZT).


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey conducted as part of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's AIDS Health Services Program.


METHODS
Public hospital clinics and community-based AIDS organizations in nine American cities.


METHODS
880 HIV-seropositive outpatients interviewed between October 1988 and May 1989.


RESULTS
Males were more likely to have been offered AZT than were females (adjusted odds ratio 2.99; 95% confidence interval 1.67 to 5.36), those with insurance were more likely to have been offered AZT than were those without (adjusted odds ratio 2.00; 95% confidence interval 1.25 to 3.21), and whites more likely to have been offered AZT than were non-whites (adjusted odds ratio 1.73; 95% confidence interval 1.11 to 2.69). Intravenous drug users were less likely to have been offered AZT than were non-drug users (adjusted odds ratio 0.44; 95% confidence interval 0.28 to 0.69). Persons who had had an episode of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia were more likely to have been offered AZT than were persons who had AIDS and had not had Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (adjusted odds ratio 2.95; 95% confidence interval 1.71 to 5.11).


CONCLUSIONS
The authors conclude that traditionally disadvantaged groups have less access to AZT, the only antiretroviral agent demonstrated to increase survival of patients who have symptomatic HIV infection.
Stein
M D
MD
Department of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
Piette
J
J
Mor
V
V
Wachtel
T J
TJ
Fleishman
J
J
Mayer
K H
KH
Carpenter
C C
CC
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007349:Insurance, Health, Reimbursement; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D015215:Zidovudine