title: Crystal methamphetamine use and HIV medical outcomes among HIV-infected men who have sex with men accessing support services in New York.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Drug use poses multiple challenges to maintaining physical health among HIV-infected individuals, particularly with regard to disease progression. Few studies, however, have examined the association between the use of crystal methamphetamine ("crystal meth") and HIV disease progression specifically among HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM). Understanding this relationship among HIV-infected MSM is particularly critical because of the high rates of crystal meth use reported in the population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Associations between recent crystal meth use and poor HIV medical outcomes (viral load>200 copies/mL, CD4 count <350 cells/mm(3)) were analyzed for 2896 HIV-infected MSM enrolled in Ryan White Part A programs in the greater New York metropolitan area between November 2010 and June 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Crystal meth use (reported by 4%) was independently associated with unsuppressed viral load (AOR=1.8, CI=1.1-2.9) in multivariate analyses controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. There was no significant relationship between crystal meth use and low CD4 counts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To date, little research has examined how crystal meth use influences HIV medical outcomes among HIV-infected MSM. This analysis showed a significant independent association between crystal meth use and unsuppressed viral load among MSM in an HIV service population. Future studies should examine biological and psychosocial mediators, moderators and confounders of this relationship to inform intervention development for MSM crystal meth users in HIV care settings.
authors.affiliation: New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bureau of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control, 42-09 28th Street, Queens, NY 11101-4132, United States. Electronic address: mfeldman3@health.nyc.gov.
authors.forename: Matthew B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Feldman
authors.affiliation: New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bureau of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control, 42-09 28th Street, Queens, NY 11101-4132, United States.
authors.forename: Jacinthe A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bureau of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control, 42-09 28th Street, Queens, NY 11101-4132, United States.
authors.forename: Emily R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Alexy
authors.affiliation: New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bureau of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control, 42-09 28th Street, Queens, NY 11101-4132, United States.
authors.forename: Mary K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Irvine
mesh_terms: D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D019562:Viral Load
keywords: HIV; Men who have sex with men; Methamphetamine; Viral suppression