Differential characteristics of HIV-infected penitentiary patients and HIV-infected community patients.
OBJECTIVE
To identify particular characteristics of HIV+ patients from correctional facilities (CF) compared with an HIV+ population from the community to better detect variables for intervention.


METHODS
In our hospital, HIV+ patients are admitted to an infectious diseases ward (IDW) when they come from the community or to a penitentiary unit (PU) when they are transferred from CF. We retrospectively reviewed admissions of those patients in both areas during 1999.


RESULTS
Admissions of HIV+ patients to IDW and PU generate 2.3% and 53.4% of hospital and PU stays, respectively. Both populations were equivalent in terms of mean age, CD4 count, viral load, prophylaxis for opportunistic infections, average stay, and death during stay. Male sex (91% vs. 74%), previous or current intravenous drug use (88% vs. 77%), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) seropositivity (97% vs. 82.6%) were more frequent in the PU than in the IDW. Multivariate analysis identified three factors as being independently related to admission from prison: longer time of known HIV infection (average 3.3 years; 95% CI 1.9-4.6), no previous antiretroviral treatment (odds ratio [OR] 2.95; 95% CI 1.46-6.0), and admission due to tuberculosis (OR 2.5; 95% CI 1.03-6.0).


CONCLUSIONS
HIV infection is still a serious medical problem in CF. Although imprisonment can provide access to health programs, HIV-infected prison patients suffer more frequently from tuberculosis and take less antiretroviral treatment.
Pérez-Molina
José A
JA
Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Department, Madrid, Spain. jperezmol@efd.net
Fernández-González
Francisco
F
Hernangómez
Susana
S
González
C
C
Miralles
P
P
López-Bernaldo De Quirós
Juan C
JC
Bouza
Emilio
E
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006760:Hospitalization; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011329:Prisoners; D012111:Residence Characteristics