title: Comorbidities and challenges affecting African Americans with HIV infection.
abstract: The significant disparities in health outcomes that exist among racial minorities in the United States are clearly evident in the HIV epidemic. HIV disproportionately affects minorities, African Americans in particular. Current treatment of HIV/AIDS is complicated by medical problems such as hepatitis, diabetes and dyslipidemia, which also disproportionately affect African Americans and can significantly impact the complexity of clinical care. In addition, untreated psychological problems such as depression and societal barriers to adequate medical care may decrease treatment adherence and increase HIV-related morbidity and mortality among African Americans. Consideration of these issues by healthcare providers is necessary to optimize care and improve treatment outcomes for African Americans with HIV infection.
authors.affiliation: AIDS Arms Inc./Peabody Health Center, Dallas, TX 75215, USA. krawlings@aidsarms.org
authors.forename: M Keith
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Rawlings
authors.forename: Henry L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Masters
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015897:Comorbidity; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000208:ethnology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000208:ethnology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000208:ethnology
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents