Impact of HAART and injection drug use on life expectancy of two HIV-positive cohorts in British Columbia.
BACKGROUND
The introduction of HAART has led to consistent improvements in survival among HIV-infected individuals. However, there is evidence that not all populations have benefited equally from HAART and that mortality rates are higher in HIV-infected injection drug users than in non-users.


OBJECTIVE
To model life expectancies for HIV-positive individuals subdivided according to history of injection drug use and treatment with HAART.


METHODS
Population-based study of HIV-positive persons in British Columbia's HIV/AIDS treatment program.


METHODS
The primary outcome measures in this study were life expectancy at exact age 20 and potential years of life lost.


RESULTS
The highest life expectancy (38.9 years) and lowest potential years of life lost were measured for individuals taking HAART and without a history of injection drug use. The lowest life expectancy (19.1 years) and highest potential years of life lost were measured in HIV-positive injection drug users who were not taking HAART.


CONCLUSIONS
There are substantial disparities in life expectancy for persons living with HIV in British Columbia. Members of the injection drug community, particularly those who are not taking HAART, experience elevated mortality in comparison with those without a history of drug use.
Lloyd-Smith
Elisa
E
Department of Health Care and Epidemiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Brodkin
Elizabeth
E
Wood
Evan
E
Kerr
Thomas
T
Tyndall
Mark W
MW
Montaner
Julio S G
JS
Hogg
Robert S
RS
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D001955:British Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002423:Cause of Death; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality*; D019562:Viral Load