title: Health status of HIV-infected women entering care: baseline medical findings from the women of color initiative.
abstract: The WOC Initiative is a prospective study of 921 women of color (WOC) entering HIV care at nine (three rural, six urban) sites across the US. A baseline interview was performed that included self-reported limitation(s) in activity, health conditions, and the CDC's health-related quality of life measures (Healthy Days). One-third of the WOC reported limiting an activity because of illness or a health condition and those with an activity limitation reported 13 physically and 14 mentally unhealthy days/month, compared with 5 physically and 9 mentally unhealthy days/month in the absence of an activity limitation. Age was associated with a three- to fourfold increased risk of an activity limitation but only for WOC in the urban sites. Diabetes was associated with a threefold increased risk of a limitation among women at rural sites. Cardiac disease was associated with a six- to sevenfold increased risk of an activity limitation for both urban and rural WOC. HIV+ WOC reported more physically and mentally unhealthy days than the general US female population even without an activity limitation. Prevention and treatment of diabetes and cardiovascular disease will need to be a standard part of HIV care to promote the long-term health and HRQOL for HIV-infected WOC.
authors.affiliation: 1 Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
authors.forename: E Byrd
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Quinlivan
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fletcher
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Eastwood
authors.forename: Arthur E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Blank
authors.forename: Niko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Verdecias
authors.forename: Katya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Roytburd
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012424:Rural Population; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population