title: [HIV infection in immigrants: clinical and epidemiological differences as compared to the native population in a Health Area in Madrid (2002-2004)].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the incidence and characteristics of immigrant patients attended in a dedicated HIV Unit in Madrid (Spain).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study including all patients whose first visit to our HIV Unit took place between January 2001 and December 2004.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among a total of 516 new patients seen during the study period, 101 (19.6%) were immigrants (59% from Latin America, 27% from sub-Saharan Africa). Considering only patients who had not received previous clinical care in other centers (n = 298), 25.5% were immigrants. As compared to Spanish patients, there was a higher proportion of women among the immigrant population (40% vs. 26%: P = 0.008), age was lower (35 vs. 38 years; P = 0.003), and educational level was higher (39% vs. 13% secondary or higher education; P < 0.0001), with no statistical differences regarding employment (37% vs. 27% were unemployed; P = 0.07). Sexual transmission was more frequent among immigrants (85% vs. 37%; P < 0.0001), but the main sexual route of infection in both groups was heterosexual contact (71% and 66%). There were no differences in the baseline clinical, immunological, or virological status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A large number of new patients attended for the first time in a dedicated HIV Clinic in Madrid were immigrants. Although these patients showed some differences in demographic characteristics and the mechanism of HIV transmission, no significant differences were found in their clinical or immunological characteristics as compared to Spanish patients.
authors: Departamento de Especialidades Médicas, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odón, España. masuncion.hernando@uem.es
authors: Asunción Hernando
authors: AH
authors: Jerez
authors: Carlos
authors: C
authors: García-Cerrada
authors: Federico Pulido
authors: FP
authors: Ortega
authors: Rafael Rubio
authors: RR
authors: García
authors: Rafael Hervás
authors: RH
authors: Gómez
authors: Concepción Cepeda
authors: CC
authors: González
authors: José Ramón Costa
authors: JR
authors: Pérez-Herrero
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara / Q000208:ethnology; D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005060:Europe / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D019529:Sexuality; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology