title: Impact of HAART and injection drug use on life expectancy of two HIV-positive cohorts in British Columbia.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Care and Epidemiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lloyd-Smith
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brodkin
authors.forename: Evan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kerr
authors.forename: Mark W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Tyndall
authors.forename: Julio S G
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Montaner
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Hogg
mesh_terms: 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