title: Quality of life, symptomatology and healthcare utilization in HIV/HCV co-infected drug users in Miami.
abstract: HIV/HCV co-infection is becoming one of the main causes of death in HIV+ persons. We determined quality of life, clinical symptoms and health care utilization in HIV mono-infected and HIV/HCV co-infected chronic drug users. After consenting 218 HIV+ drug users, a physical examination and questionnaires on demographics, quality of life, drugs of abuse, and healthcare utilization were completed. Blood was drawn for HCV status, CD4 cell count, HIV viral load, CBC and chemistry. HIV/HCV co-infected participants had significantly higher risk of having poorer perceived outlook and health, presented significantly more frequent depression and physical symptoms, and used significantly more healthcare services than those infected with HIV only, after adjusting for age, gender, ethnicity, CD4 cell count, and viral load. Diminished quality of life in the HIV/HCV co-infected group was explained by increased frequency of depression, physical symptoms, healthcare utilization, and poor access to HCV treatment in this population.
authors.affiliation: Florida International University, Robert R. Stempel School of Public Health, Miami, FL 33199, USA. baumm@fiu.edu
authors.forename: Marianna K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Baum
authors.forename: Dushyantha T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Jayaweera
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sales
authors.forename: Shenghan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Carlin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rafie
authors.forename: Arie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Regev
authors.forename: J Bryan
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Page
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Berkman
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Campa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015704:CD4 Antigens