Disparities in HIV-treatment responses between Haitians, African Americans, and Hispanics living in Miami-Dade County, Florida.
BACKGROUND
Studies evaluating response to treatment with Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) fail to examine Haitian patients living in the U.S. as a distinct group.


METHODS
This study was designed to determine the effectiveness of HAART in Haitians compared with other minority groups. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of HIV patients from two clinics. The cohort included 96 Hispanics, 60 African Americans, and 49 Haitians, after reviewing a total of 891 charts.


RESULTS
At 96 weeks, fewer Haitians (58.5%) achieved a suppressed viral load than African American (74.1%) or Hispanic (82.8%) patients (p=.021). Median CD4 counts at baseline were lowest among Haitians, with 158 cells/mm3, compared with African Americans, 176 cells/mm3 and Hispanics, 199 cells/mm3.


CONCLUSIONS
Haitians are not doing as well on HAART as other groups. This may be explained by linguistic, cultural, or other barriers that are not currently addressed by the health care system in the United States.
Jay Weiss Center for Social Medicine and Health Equity, University of Miami–Miller School of Medicine (UM-MSM), Miami, FL 33136, USA. jacolasanti@med.miami.edu
Jonathan
J
Colasanti
Linda
L
Nguyen
JoAnn Tjin Kon
JT
Kiem
Khaled
K
Deeb
Dushyantha
D
Jayaweera
D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology*; D006205:Haiti / Q000208:ethnology; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents