title: A Multi-Group Latent Class Analysis of Chronic Medical Conditions Among Men Who Have Sex with Men.
abstract: Until recently, research on the health of gay and other men who have sex with men (MSM) has focused on risk for and the health consequences of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. A multigroup latent class analysis examined a range of lifetime chronic medical conditions (CMCs) among MSM. Covariates included sociodemographics, substance use, psychological distress, and HIV serostatus. A two-class model best fit the medical condition data: a low probabilities class for most CMCs and a moderate to high probabilities (MHP) class. HIV serostatus was associated with increased within-class probabilities for some CMCs, particularly gastrointestinal and skin disorders. Only increasing age and use of erectile dysfunction drugs were directly associated with increased odds of being in the MHP class whereas methamphetamine use, identifying as gay, and lower alcohol use were indirectly associated. Implications of the findings for future research and the health care needs of MSM are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Jane Addams College of Social Work, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1040 W. Harrison Street, (M/C 309), Chicago, IL, 60607, USA. jaswartz@uic.edu.
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Swartz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002641:Chicago / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Chronic medical conditions; HIV/AIDS; Latent class analysis; MSM; Multigroup analysis