Predictors of hospitalization for HIV-positive women and men drug users, 1996-2000.
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to determine whether health outcomes differed by gender in a cohort of African American, Hispanic American, and white drug users.


METHODS
The authors studied hospitalization rates and discharge diagnoses in the HERO Study, an ongoing prospective study of drug users that included HIV-positive and HIV-negative opiate users. The data are from 1996-2000, when highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) was available.


RESULTS
Women had higher rates of hospitalization than men independent of HIV status, and there was no association between ethnicity and hospitalization. Being a woman was an independent risk factor for HIV and non-HIV-related hospitalization.


CONCLUSIONS
Health disparities between men and women extend to HIV.
Schoenbaum
Ellie E
EE
AIDS Research Program, Montefiore Medical Center, 111 East 210th Street, Bronx, New York 10467, USA. eschoenb@montefiore.org
Lo
Yungtai
Y
Floris-Moore
Michelle
M
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006786:Hospitals, Urban / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology*; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016387:Women's Health