title: National estimates of the characteristics of individuals infected with HIV who are likely to report and receive treatment for painful bleeding gums.
abstract: Painful bleeding gums may be associated with HIV infection. This study examined the characteristics of persons reporting the symptom "painful bleeding gums" and their likelihood of accessing care. The study population consisted of persons receiving care for HIV as part of the HIV Cost and Services Utilization Study (HCSUS). In this national population, 5.3% reported painful bleeding gums. Significant differences in reporting painful bleeding gums were found between Hispanics/Whites, oral health status, and presence of other symptoms. Compared to younger persons, those in the middle age group were more likely to seek treatment, while persons with the highest CD4 counts were more likely to seek treatment than those with the lowest CD4 counts. This study showed that reporting painful bleeding gums was a function of ethnicity, other symptoms, and perceived oral health, while seeking treatment for painful bleeding gums was related to age and CD4 counts. Dentists and other health care providers can have an active role in improving the quality of life of persons living with HIV by being aware of the relationships that exist between patients with HIV and painful bleeding gums.
authors.affiliation: UCSF Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, San Francisco, California, USA. aldrich.sy@ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Aldrich A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Sy
authors.forename: Benjamin A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Freed
authors.forename: Fouy K
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Chau
authors.forename: Marvin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marcus
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000367:Age Factors; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult