Lamothe F, Bruneau J, Franco E, Lachance N, Desy M, Vincelette J, Soto J; International Conference on AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS. 1996 Jul 7-12; 11: 351 (abstract no. Tu.C.2502).

CRC Andre Viallet, Hopital Saint-Luc, Universite de Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Fax: (514) 281-2443. E-mail: lamothef@ere.umontreal.ca.

Objectives: To evaluate HIV seroconversion in a cohort of injection drug users (IDUs) and to determine factors associated with seroconversion. Methods: Recent injectors were recruited in a cohort directly from the street via a word-of-mouth system, and through treatment centers when admitted. Information on demographics, drug use, medical history, sexual practices were collected at entry and HIV status assessed at each visit. Entry factors were correlated with HIV seroconversion, using univariate and multivariate analysis, by a Cox proportional hazards model. Results: Between September 1988 and January 1995, 974 seronegative subjects were enrolled in the cohort. Mean follow-up time was 15.4 months, 89 seroconverted for an incidence rate of 5.1 per 100 person-years (Confidence Intervals at 95% (CI95%): 4.1-6.2). Factors associated with subsequent seroconversion in the univariate analysis were: being a man, no fixed address, being out of treatment, number of sexual partners, previous emprisonment, suicide attempt and having HIV+ acquaintances. Other associated factors were related to drug use: cocaine as drug of choice, number of injections, number of sharing partners, shooting galleries, sharing with an HIV+ person and needle exchange program attendance. In the Cox proportional hazards model, six factors were independantly associated with seroconversion: cocaine as the drug of choice (Hazard Ratio (HR) 2.9 (CI95%: 1.5-5.4)), sharing with an HIV+ person (HR 2.0 (CI95%: 1.1-3.7)), greater than 30 injections in the last month (HR 2.2 (CI95%: 1.3-3.5)), being out of treatment (HR 1.7 (CI95%:1.1-2.7)), no fixed address (HR 1.8 (CI95%:1.0-3.2)) and needle exchange program attendance (HR 1.6 (CI95%:1.0-2.6)). Conclusion: Seroconversion has remained high and stable among IDUs in Montreal over the past 7 years. Cocaine and injection behaviours are strongly associated with HIV seroconversion, in spite of knowledge of risks and availability of sterile equipment.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• AIDS Vaccines
• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Cocaine
• Confidence Intervals
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Humans
• Incidence
• Male
• Needle-Exchange Programs
• Proportional Hazards Models
• Risk Factors
• Substance-Related Disorders
• epidemiology

Other ID:

• 96922689

UI: 102218588

From Meeting Abstracts