Longitudinal Analysis of Overlapping Psychosocial Factors Predicting Incident Hospitalization Among Mixed HIV Serostatus Men who have Sex with Men in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study.

Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at increased risk for certain types of chronic diseases and mental health problems. Despite having extended survival in the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) era, MSM living with HIV contend with aging-related diseases and complications with treatment. Consequent hospitalizations incur high costs, fear, low quality of life, and frailty. Unlike heterosexual men, MSM experience more structural violence and "syndemics" of psychosocial factors that not only accelerate HIV acquisition and transmission risk but also may increase morbidity, leading to greater rates of hospitalization. We aim to examine the impact of "syndemic" psychosocial factors on the incidence of hospitalization among geographically diverse MSM in the US. Participants were 1760 MSM from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) between 2004 and 2019. We examined the relationship between six psychosocial factors (depression, stimulant use, smoking, heroin use, childhood sexual abuse, and intimate partner violence) and incident hospitalization (admission to a hospital for treatment). We found a positive dose-response relationship between the number of syndemic factors and hospitalization. MSM reporting five or more syndemic factors had over twice the risk of hospitalization compared to MSM without syndemic factors [aRR = 2.14 (95% CI = 1.56, 2.94)]. Psychosocial factors synergistically increased hospitalizations over time. The positive dose-response relationship between the number of syndemic factors and hospitalization and the synergistic effects of these factors underscore the need for interventions that disentangle the syndemics to reduce hospitalization and related costs and improve the quality of life among MSM.

Life course history of physical and sexual abuse is associated with cardiovascular disease risk among women living with and without HIV.

OBJECTIVE: Sexual and physical abuse predict cardiovascular disease (CVD) among women in the general population. Women living with HIV (WLWH) report more abuse and have higher CVD risk compared with other women, yet associations between abuse history and CVD have not been considered among WLWH. This study fills this gap, and describes possible pathways linking abuse to CVD risk among WLWH and women living without HIV (WLWOH). METHODS: Using 25 years of data from the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS; n  = 2734; WLWH n  = 1963; WLWOH n  = 771), we used longitudinal generalized estimating equations (GEE) to test associations between sexual and physical abuse with CVD risk. Framingham (FRS-H) and the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association-Pooled Cohort Equation (ACC/AHA-PCE) scores were examined. Analyses were stratified by HIV-serostatus. RESULTS: Among WLWH, childhood sexual abuse was associated with higher CVD risk ( ßFRS-H  = 1.25, SE = 1.08, P  = 0.005; ßACC/AHA-PCE  = 1.14, SE = 1.07, P  = 0.04) compared with no abuse. Adulthood sexual abuse was associated with higher CVD risk for WLWH ( ßFRS-H  = 1.39, SE = 1.08, P  < 0.0001) and WLWOH ( ßFRS-H  = 1.58, SE = 1.14, P  = 0.0006). Childhood physical abuse was not associated with CVD risk for either group. Adulthood physical abuse was associated with CVD risk for WLWH ( ßFRS-H  = 1.44, SE = 1.07; P  < 0.0001, ßACC/AHA-PCE  = 1.18, SE = 1.06, P  = 0.002) and WLWOH ( ßFRS-H  = 1.68, SE = 1.12, P  < 0.0001; ßACC/AHA-PCE  = 1.24, SE = 1.11, P  = 0.03). Several pathway factors were significant, including depression, smoking, and hepatitis C infection. CONCLUSION: Life course abuse may increase CVD risk among WLWH and women at high risk of acquiring HIV. Some comorbidities help explain the associations. Assessing abuse experiences in clinical encounters may help contextualize cardiovascular risk among this vulnerable population and inform intervention.

The Relationship Between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Alcohol Misuse and Smoking Among Aging Men Who Have Sex With Men: No Evidence of Exercise or Volunteering Impact.

OBJECTIVES: To determine if the association between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use (alcohol misuse or smoking tobacco) is mediated/moderated by exercise or volunteering among aging (≥40 years) men who have sex with men (MSM), and if this mediation/moderation differs by HIV serostatus. METHODS: Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study data were used. Three datasets with PTSD measured during different time periods (10/1/2017-3/31/2018, 898 men; 4/1/2018-9/30/2018, 890 men; 10/1/2018-3/31/2019, 895 men) were analyzed. Longitudinal mediation analyses estimated the mediation effect of exercise and volunteering on the outcomes. RESULTS: Nine percent of MSM had evidence of PTSD. There was no statistically significant mediation effect of exercise or volunteering regardless of substance use outcome. The odds of smoking at a future visit among MSM with PTSD were approximately double those of MSM without PTSD. Results did not differ by HIV serostatus. DISCUSSION: There is a particular need for effective smoking cessation interventions for aging MSM with PTSD.

Midlife body mass index, central adiposity and neuropsychological performance over 10 years in women living with and without HIV.

Background and objective: Observations of overweight and obesity in association with neuropsychological performance (NP) vary over the adult life course depending on baseline levels, biological sex, age, race, temporality of measurements, and other factors. Therefore, similar published analyses across cohorts are inconsistent. In our sample of women living with HIV (WLWH) and women without HIV (WWOH), we conducted comparable analyses as those published in men with and without HIV. We examined cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) and NP. Methods: Four hundred thirty two 432 virologically-suppressed WLWH and 367 WWOH, ≥40 years in the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) with anthropometry and NP assessments every two years from 2009-2019 were included in the study. Demographically-adjusted T-scores were calculated for six NP domains: learning, memory, executive function, processing speed, attention and working memory, and motor function. Multivariable linear regression models stratified by HIV status were used to examine cross-sectional associations of BMI and WC by NP domain; repeated measures analyses assessed baseline BMI and WC in association with longitudinal change in NP. Covariates included sociodemographic, behavioral, and HIV-related characteristics. Results: At baseline among all women, the median age was 45 years, 65% were Non-Latinx Black women, and 45% were obese women. Obese WLWH (BMI≥30.0 kg/m2) had poorer executive function (ß=-2.27, 95%CI [-4.46, -0.07]) versus WLWH with healthy BMI (18.5-24.9 kg/m2). Longitudinally over ~8 years, obese versus overweight WWOH improved on memory (ß=2.19, 95%CI [0.13, 4.26]), however overweight versus healthy WWOH experienced declining memory (ß= -2.67, 95%CI [-5.40, -0.07]). Increasing WC was associated with declining executive, processing speed, and motor function (p's<0.05); an at-risk WC was associated with improved memory (ß=1.81, 95%CI [0.19, 3.44]) among WWOH. Among WLWH, increasing BMI was associated with improved learning (ß=0.07, 95%CI [0.00, 0.15]. Conclusion: Our cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses evaluating the associations of BMI and WC and NP were mixed compared to previous reports. This illustrates the importance of sociodemographic characteristics, baseline levels of exposures and outcomes, HIV status, temporality of measurements, and other factors when evaluating aging HIV epidemiology study results.

Syndemic trajectories of heavy drinking, smoking, and depressive symptoms are associated with mortality in women living with HIV in the United States from 1994 to 2017.

BACKGROUND: Heavy drinking, smoking, and depression are common among people with HIV. Little is known about the co-occurring, synergistic effect of having two or more of these conditions long-term -a sustained syndemic - on mortality among women with HIV (WWH). METHODS: Data from 3282 WWH of the Women's Interagency HIV Study from 1994 to 2017 were utilized. National Death Index review identified cause of death (n=616). Sustained syndemic phenotypes were based on membership in high-risk groups defined by group-based trajectory models of repeated self-reported alcohol use, smoking, and depressive symptoms and their co-occurrence. Cox proportional hazard models estimated associations of sustained syndemic phenotypes with all-cause, non-AIDS, and non-overdose mortality, adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, education, enrollment wave, illicit drug use, and time-varying HIV viral load and CD4+ T-cell count. RESULTS: WWH were 58% Black and 26% Hispanic, with a mean baseline age of 36.7 years. Syndemic phenotypes included zero (45%, n=1463), heavy drinking only (1%, n=35), smoking only (28%, n=928), depressive symptoms only (9%, n=282), and 2+ trajectories (17%, n=574). Compared to zero trajectories, having 2+ trajectories was associated with 3.93 times greater all-cause mortality risk (95% CI 3.07, 5.04) after controlling for confounders and each high-risk trajectory alone. These findings persisted in sensitivity analyses, removing AIDS- and overdose-related mortalities. CONCLUSIONS: Clustering of 2+ conditions of heavy drinking, smoking, and depression affected nearly one in five WWH and was associated with higher mortality than zero or one condition. Our findings underscore the need for coordinated screening and parsimonious treatment strategies for these co-occurring conditions.

Circulating biomarker correlates of left atrial size and myocardial extracellular volume fraction among persons living with and without HIV.

BACKGROUND: Infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is associated with higher risk for myocardial disease despite modern combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). Factors contributing to this excess risk, however, remain poorly characterized. We aimed to assess cross-sectional relationships between elevations of left atrial volume index (LAVI) and myocardial extracellular volume (ECV) fraction that have been reported in persons living with HIV and levels of circulating biomarkers of inflammation, fibrosis, and myocyte stretch among persons living with and without HIV (PLWH, PLWOH). METHODS: Participants from three cohorts of PLWH and PLWOH underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging for measurement of LAVI and ECV. Levels of circulating proteins (IL-6, sCD14, galectin-3, NT-proBNP, GDF-15, TIMP-2, MMP-2, and hsTnI) were measured using immunoassays. Associations were assessed using logistic and linear regression, adjusting for demographics, substance use, and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: Among 381 participants with and without HIV, median age (IQR) was 55.1 (51.2, 58.4) years, 28% were female, 69% were Black, and 46% were current smokers. Sixty-two percent were PLWH (n = 235), of whom 88% were receiving cART and 72% were virally suppressed. PLWH had higher levels of sCD14 (p = < 0.001), GDF-15 (p = < 0.001), and NT-proBNP (p = 0.03) compared to PLWOH, while levels of other biomarkers did not differ by HIV serostatus, including IL-6 (p = 0.84). Among PLWH, higher sCD14, GDF-15, and NT-proBNP were also associated with lower CD4 + cell count, and higher NT-proBNP was associated with detectable HIV viral load. NT-proBNP was associated with elevated LAVI (OR: 1.79 [95% CI: 1.31, 2.44]; p < 0.001) with no evidence of effect measure modification by HIV serostatus. Other associations between HIV-associated biomarkers and LAVI or ECV were small or imprecise. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that elevated levels of sCD14, GDF-15, and NT-proBNP among PLWH compared to PLWOH observed in the current cART era may only minimally reflect HIV-associated elevations in LAVI and ECV. Future studies of excess risk of myocardial disease among contemporary cohorts of PLWH should investigate mechanisms other than those connoted by the studied biomarkers.

Polypharmacy Is Associated With Falls in Women With and Without HIV.

BACKGROUND: Aging in people with HIV is associated with increased risk of developing synergistic conditions such as neurocognitive impairment, polypharmacy, and falls. We assessed associations between polypharmacy (use of 5 or more non-ART medications), use of neurocognitive adverse effects (NCAE) medications, and odds of falls in women with HIV (WWH) and without HIV (HIV-). METHODS: Self-reported falls and medication use data were contributed semiannually by 1872 (1315 WWH and 557 HIV-) Women's Interagency HIV Study participants between 2014 and 2016. Polypharmacy and NCAE medication use were evaluated separately and jointly in multivariable models to assess their independent contributions to single and multiple falls risk. RESULTS: The proportion of women who reported any fall was similar by HIV status (19%). WWH reported both greater polypharmacy (51% vs. 41%; P < 0.001) and NCAE medication use (44% vs. 37%; P = 0.01) than HIV- women. Polypharmacy conferred elevated odds of single fall [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.67, 95% CI: 1.36 to 2.06; P < 0.001] and multiple falls (aOR 2.31, 95% CI: 1.83 to 2.93; P < 0.001); the results for NCAE medications and falls were similar. Both polypharmacy and number of NCAE medications remained strongly and independently associated with falls in multivariable models adjusted for HIV serostatus, study site, sociodemographics, clinical characteristics, and substance use. CONCLUSIONS: Polypharmacy and NCAE medication use were greater among WWH compared with HIV-, and both were independently and incrementally related to falls. Deprescribing and avoidance of medications with NCAEs may be an important consideration for reducing fall risk among WWH and sociodemographically similar women without HIV.

Self-Reported Cannabis Use and Markers of Inflammation in Men Who Have Sex With Men With and Without HIV.

Background: Chronic inflammation contributes to aging and organ dysfunction in the general population, and is a particularly important determinant of morbidity and mortality among people with HIV (PWH). The effect of cannabis use on chronic inflammation is not well understood among PWH, who use cannabis more frequently than the general population. Materials and Methods: We evaluated participants in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) beginning in 2004 with available data on cannabis use and inflammatory biomarkers. Associations of current cannabis use with plasma concentrations of inflammatory markers were adjusted for hepatitis C, tobacco smoking, and comorbidities. Markers were analyzed individually and in exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Results: We included 1352 men within the MACS. Twenty-seven percent of HIV-negative men, 41% of HIV viremic men, and 35% of virologically suppressed men reported cannabis use at baseline. Among cannabis users, 20-25% in all groups defined by HIV serostatus were daily users, and the same proportion reported weekly use. The remaining ∼50% of users in all groups reported monthly or less frequent use. Four biomarker groupings were identified by EFA: Factor 1: immune activation markers; Factor 2: proinflammatory cytokines; Factor 3: Th1- and Th2-promoting cytokines; and Factor 4: inflammatory chemokines. In EFA, daily users had 30% higher levels of Factor 2 biomarkers than nonusers (p=0.03); this was the only statistically significant difference by cannabis use status. Among individual markers, concentrations of IL-1ß, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-8 (Factor 2); IL-10 (Factor 3); and BAFF (Factor 1) were higher (p<0.05) among daily cannabis users than among nonusers, after adjusting for HIV serostatus and other covariates. Discussion: Associations between daily cannabis use and proinflammatory biomarker levels did not differ by HIV serostatus. Further prospective studies with measured cannabis components are needed to clarify the impact of these compounds on inflammation. Our findings can facilitate for hypothesis generation and selection of biomarkers to include in such studies.

Marijuana use and pneumonia risk in a cohort of HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected men.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of marijuana use is increasing in the United States. Marijuana smoking has been shown to impair the microbicidal activity of alveolar macrophages and decrease the number of ciliated epithelial cells in the bronchi with a parallel increase in the number of mucus-secreting surface epithelial cells, which may increase the risk of pneumonia. However, it remains unclear whether there is an association between smoking marijuana and pneumonia. METHODS: Using data from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS), a long-term observational cohort study of men who have sex with men in the United States, we used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate the risk of pneumonia among HIV-infected (n = 2784) and HIV-uninfected (n = 2665) men from 1984 to 2013, adjusted for time-varying and fixed baseline covariates. RESULTS: Weekly or daily marijuana use was not significantly associated with increased risk of pneumonia among HIV-uninfected men (adjusted hazard ratio; 95% confidence limits: 0.83, 0.56-1.23). In the disaggregated dose-response analysis, daily use (0.68, 0.34-1.35) was associated with a lower point estimate than weekly use [0.99, 0.79-1.25]. CONCLUSION: Marijuana smoking was not associated with a significant increase in risk of pneumonia among HIV-infected or HIV-uninfected men.

Latent Classes of Polysubstance Use Among Adolescents in the United States: Intersections of Sexual Identity with Sex, Age, and Race/Ethnicity.

PURPOSE: We aimed to estimate latent classes of concurrent polysubstance use and test for sexual orientation differences in latent class memberships with representative data from adolescents living in 19 U.S. states. We also tested whether sex, race/ethnicity, and age moderated the sexual identity differences in polysubstance use class memberships. METHODS: We analyzed data from 119,437 adolescents from 19 states who participated in the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Latent class analysis characterized polysubstance use patterns based on self-reported frequency of lifetime and past-month use of alcohol (including heavy episodic drinking), tobacco (cigarettes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco), and marijuana. Multinomial logistic regression models tested differences in latent class memberships by sexual identity. Interaction terms tested whether sex, race/ethnicity, and age moderated the sexual identity differences in polysubstance use class memberships. RESULTS: A six-class model of polysubstance use fit the data best and included nonusers (61.5%), experimental users (12.2%), marijuana-alcohol users (14.8%), tobacco-alcohol users (3.8%), medium-frequency three-substance users (3.6%), and high-frequency three-substance users (4.1%). Gay/lesbian- and bisexual-identified adolescents had significantly higher odds than heterosexual-identified adolescents of being in all of the user classes compared with the nonuser class. These sexual identity differences in latent polysubstance use class memberships were generally larger for females than for males, varied occasionally by race/ethnicity, and were sometimes larger for younger ages. CONCLUSION: Compared with their heterosexual peers, gay/lesbian and bisexual adolescents-especially females-are at heightened risk of engaging in multiple types of polysubstance use. Designing, implementing, and evaluating interventions will likely reduce these sexual orientation disparities.

Association of Marijuana Use with Changes in Cognitive Processing Speed and Flexibility for 17 Years in HIV-Seropositive and HIV-Seronegative Men.

BACKGROUND: The long-term effects of marijuana on cognition, particularly in the context of HIV is not clear, as extant research shows mixed findings. OBJECTIVE: To determine associations between current and cumulative exposure to marijuana and changes in cognitive processing speed and flexibility in 788 HIV-seropositive (HIV+) and 1,132 HIV-seronegative (HIV-) men followed for up to 17 years in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study. RESULTS: Among HIV+ men only, current daily marijuana use compared to none-use, was significantly associated with a greater annual percentage decline in cognitive processing speed assessed with the Trail Making Test A (TMTA) (ß=-0.41, 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.88, -0.03, p=0.03)] and Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) (ß= -0.14, 95% CI: -0.28, -0.01, p=0.04). Further, monthly marijuana use was associated with greater annual percentage decline in cognitive flexibility assessed with the Trail Making Test B (TMTB) (ß= -0.70, 95% CI: -1.34, -0.05; p=0.03] and cognitive processing speed (SDMT) (ß= -0.21, 95% CI: -0.40, -0.01, p=0.03). Among the HIV- men only, each 5-marijuana use-years (equivalent to 5-years of daily marijuana use) was significantly associated with a 0.17 annual percentage decline in cognitive processing speed only (TMTA) (ß= -0.18, 95% CI: -0.36, -0.01; p=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that marijuana use, particularly current use, may be associated with worse cognitive processing speed, but the magnitude of the estimates was not clinically meaningful.

The Impact of Past and Current Alcohol Consumption Patterns on Progression of Carotid Intima-Media Thickness Among Women and Men Living with HIV Infection.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between alcohol consumption and atherosclerosis has not been sufficiently examined among people living with HIV (PLWH). METHODS: We analyzed data from PLWH in the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS; n = 1,164) and the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS; n = 387) with no history of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Repeated measures of intima-media thickness of the right common carotid artery (CCA-IMT) were assessed using B-mode ultrasound from 2004 to 2013. Current alcohol consumption was collected at time of CCA-IMT measurement and was categorized according to gender-specific weekly limits. Group-based trajectory models categorized participants into past 10-year consumption patterns (1994 to 2004). Multivariate generalized estimating equations were conducted to assess the association of past and current alcohol use patterns on change in CCA-IMT by cohort, controlling for age, race, cigarette and illicit drug use, probable depression, HIV RNA viral load, antiretroviral therapy exposure, and hepatitis C coinfection. RESULTS: Among the WIHS, past heavy alcohol consumption was associated with increased CCA-IMT level over time (ß = 8.08, CI 0.35, 15.8, p = 0.04), compared to abstinence. Among the MACS, compared to abstinence, all past consumption patterns were associated with increased CCA-IMT over time (past low: ß = 15.3, 95% CI 6.46, 24.2, p < 0.001; past moderate: ß = 14.3, CI 1.36, 27.2, p = 0.03; past heavy: ß = 21.8, CI 4.63, 38.9, p = 0.01). Current heavy consumption was associated with decreased CCA-IMT among the WIHS (ß = -11.4, 95% CI -20.2, -2.63, p = 0.01) and MACS (ß = -15.4, 95% CI -30.7, -0.13, p = 0.04). No statistically significant time by consumption pattern effects were found. CONCLUSIONS: In both cohorts, 10-year heavy consumption was associated with statistically significant increases in carotid artery thickness, compared to abstinence. Long-term patterns of drinking at any level above abstinence were particularly significant for increases in IMT among men, with heavy consumption presenting with the greatest increase. Our results suggest a potentially different window of risk among past and current heavy drinkers. Further studies are needed to determine whether alcohol consumption level is associated with intermediate measures of atherosclerosis. Alcohol screening and interventions to reduce heavy consumption may benefit PLWH who are at risk of CVD.

Trajectories of Marijuana Use among HIV-seropositive and HIV-seronegative MSM in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS), 1984-2013.

To construct longitudinal trajectories of marijuana use in a sample of men who have sex with men living with or at-risk for HIV infection. We determined factors associated with distinct trajectories of use as well as those that serve to modify the course of the trajectory. Data were from 3658 [1439 HIV-seropositive (HIV+) and 2219 HIV-seronegative (HIV-)] participants of the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study. Frequency of marijuana use was obtained semiannually over a 29-year period (1984-2013). Group-based trajectory models were used to identify the trajectories and to determine predictors and modifiers of the trajectories over time. Four distinct trajectories of marijuana use were identified: abstainer/infrequent (65 %), decreaser (13 %), increaser (12 %) and chronic high (10 %) use groups. HIV+ status was significantly associated with increased odds of membership in the decreaser, increaser and chronic high use groups. Alcohol, smoking, stimulant and other recreational drug use were associated with increasing marijuana use across all four trajectory groups. Antiretroviral therapy use over time was associated with decreasing marijuana use in the abstainer/infrequent and increaser trajectory groups. Having a detectable HIV viral load was associated with increasing marijuana use in the increaser group only. Future investigations are needed to determine whether long-term patterns of use are associated with adverse consequences especially among HIV+ persons.

Monocyte Activation Is Associated With Worse Cognitive Performance in HIV-Infected Women With Virologic Suppression.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment persists despite suppression of plasma human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) RNA. Monocyte-related immune activation is a likely mechanism. We examined immune activation and cognition in a cohort of HIV-infected and uninfected women from the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS). METHODS: Blood levels of activation markers, soluble CD163 (sCD163), soluble CD14 (sCD14), CRP, IL-6, and a gut microbial translocation marker (intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP)) were measured in 253 women (73% HIV-infected). Markers were compared to concurrent (within ± one semiannual visit) neuropsychological testing performance. RESULTS: Higher sCD163 levels were associated with worse overall performance and worse verbal learning, verbal memory, executive function, psychomotor speed, and fine motor skills (P < .05 for all comparisons). Higher sCD14 levels were associated with worse verbal learning, verbal memory, executive function, and psychomotor speed (P < .05 for all comparisons). Among women with virological suppression, sCD163 remained associated with overall performance, verbal memory, psychomotor speed, and fine motor skills, and sCD164 remained associated with executive function (P < .05 for all comparisons). CRP, IL-6, and I-FABP were not associated with worse cognitive performance. CONCLUSIONS: Monocyte activation was associated with worse cognitive performance, and associations persisted despite viral suppression. Persistent inflammatory mechanisms related to monocytes correlate to clinically pertinent brain outcomes.

Prevalence and correlates of marijuana use among HIV-seropositive and seronegative men in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS), 1984-2013.

BACKGROUND: Marijuana use is common among HIV+ individuals, but few studies have examined long-term trends in prevalence and correlates of use. METHODS: We evaluated trends (1984-2013) in the annual prevalence of current (past 6-month use) and daily (among current users) marijuana use and determined correlates of use among 2742 HIV-seropositive (HIV+) and 3172 HIV-seronegative (HIV-) men who have sex with men in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS). Poisson regression models were used to estimate prevalence ratios of marijuana use separately for the men who were enrolled before 2001 (early-cohort) and after 2001 (late-cohort). RESULTS: Over the 29 years of the study, the prevalence of current marijuana use declined significantly, whereas daily use among users increased among all men in the early and late-cohorts. A HIV+ status was associated with higher prevalence of marijuana use among the men in the early-cohort (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] = 1.53, 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.42, 1.64, p = <0.0001), but not in the men in the late-cohort (aPR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.79, 1.03, p = 0.1424). Alcohol use and cigarette smoking were being positively associated with marijuana use. CONCLUSIONS: Although the annual prevalence of current marijuana use decreased significantly over time in the MACS, daily use among users increased significantly. Further, among the HIV+ men, our study did not show clinically significant adverse effects of marijuana use on highly active antiretroviral therapy use, CD4+ count, or HIV viral load.

Perceptions of gender-based discrimination during surgical training and practice.

BACKGROUND: Women represent 15% of practicing general surgeons. Gender-based discrimination has been implicated as discouraging women from surgery. We sought to determine women's perceptions of gender-based discrimination in the surgical training and working environment. METHODS: Following IRB approval, we fielded a pilot survey measuring perceptions and impact of gender-based discrimination in medical school, residency training, and surgical practice. It was sent electronically to 1,065 individual members of the Association of Women Surgeons. RESULTS: We received 334 responses from medical students, residents, and practicing physicians with a response rate of 31%. Eighty-seven percent experienced gender-based discrimination in medical school, 88% in residency, and 91% in practice. Perceived sources of gender-based discrimination included superiors, physician peers, clinical support staff, and patients, with 40% emanating from women and 60% from men. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of responses indicated perceived gender-based discrimination during medical school, residency, and practice. Gender-based discrimination comes from both sexes and has a significant impact on women surgeons.

Prevalence of binge drinking and associated co-factors among medical students in a U.S. Jesuit University.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol consumption is the third leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. Limited research has been conducted examining drinking habits of medical students. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to measure the prevalence and associated risk factors of binge drinking among a sample of medical students. METHODS: A total of 485 medical students at a private, Jesuit medical school in the US participated in a confidential web-based survey in April 2011. Univariate and multivariate generalized linear regressions with robust error variance were performed for estimated prevalence ratio (PR) of binge drinking. RESULTS: The prevalence of binge drinking was 58.1% among the sampled medical students with the majority being white (67.0%) and between 18 and 25 years old (60.0%). After adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, and year in medical school, there were statistically significant (p < 0.05) associations of drinking during an after-exam party (PR = 2.82), protective behavioral strategy (PR = 0.97 per 1-score increase), self-reported diagnosis of depression (PR = 1.19), tobacco use (PR = 1.21 for previous use, 1.39 for current use), and previous illicit drug use (PR = 1.24) with binge drinking. In addition, the prevalence of binge drinking decreased among this sample of the medical students with older age (PR = 0.80 for 26-28, 0.60 for >28, p < 0.01) compared to those of 18-25 years old. CONCLUSION: Binge drinking was highly prevalent among the sampled medical students, especially during an after-exam party. Identifying healthy coping strategies among medical students is warranted to reduce binge drinking.

Uptake and predictors of anal cancer screening in men who have sex with men.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated attitudes about and acceptance of anal Papanicolaou (Pap) screening among men who have sex with men (MSM). METHODS: Free anal Pap screening (cytology) was offered to 1742 MSM in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study, who reported history of, attitudes about, and experience with screening. We explored predictors of declining screening with multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: A history of anal Pap screening was uncommon among non-HIV-infected MSM, but more common among HIV-infected MSM (10% vs 39%; P < .001). Most participants expressed moderate or strong interest in screening (86%), no anxiety about screening (66%), and a strong belief in the utility of screening (65%). Acceptance of screening during this study was high (85%) across all 4 US sites. Among those screened, most reported it was "not a big deal" or "not as bad as expected," and 3% reported that it was "scary." Declining to have screening was associated with Black race, anxiety about screening, and low interest, but not age or HIV status. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated high acceptance of anal Pap screening among both HIV-infected and non-HIV-infected MSM across 4 US sites.

Prevalence and correlates of elevated body mass index among HIV-positive and HIV-negative women in the Women's Interagency HIV Study.

Since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and the subsequent increased life expectancy in HIV-infected persons, non-HIV-related diseases have become an important cause of morbidity and mortality. This cross-sectional study reports the prevalence of overweight and obesity, and sociodemographic, psychological, and substance use-related risk factors for elevated body mass index (BMI) among 2157 HIV-seropositive (HIV+) in comparison to 730 HIV-seronegative (HIV-) participants in the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS). Separate univariable and multivariate linear regression analyses were completed for HIV+ and HIV- women. Our study revealed a similar proportion of obesity (body mass index [BMI] >or=30) among HIV+ (33%) and HIV- women (29%) (p = 0.12), as well as comparable median BMI (HIV+: 26.1 versus HIV-: 26.7, p = 0.16). HIV+ compared to HIV- women, respectively, were significantly (p < 0.01) older (median = 35.6 versus. 32.5), but similar (p = 0.97) by race/ethnicity (57% African American, 28% Hispanic, and 15% white for both). In multivariate models for both HIV+ and HIV- women, African American race/ethnicity was significantly (p < 0.05) associated with higher BMI, while higher quality of life score and illicit hard drug use were associated with lower BMI. Additionally, smoking, alcohol use, markers of advanced HIV infection (AIDS diagnosis, elevated HIV viral load, low CD4 count), and a history of antiretroviral therapy use (ART) were also associated with lower BMI among HIV+ women. In conclusion, risk factors for elevated BMI were similar for HIV+ and HIV- women in the WIHS. For HIV+ women, all markers of advanced HIV infection and ART use were additionally associated with lower BMI.

Prevalence and predictors of metabolic syndrome among HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected women in the Women's Interagency HIV Study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetSynd) among participants of the Women's Interagency HIV Study and to describe the association of MetSynd with HIV infection, antiretroviral therapies, and sociodemographic factors. METHODS: Prevalence of MetSynd, defined by updated Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines, was assessed among 2393 (1725 seropositive and 668 seronegative) participants from the Women's Interagency HIV Study seen between October 2000 and October 2004. RESULTS: HIV-1 infection was independently associated with MetSynd [33% vs 22%, P<0.0001 in HIV-seropositive compared with HIV-seronegative women; adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.79 (95% confidence interval 1.48, 2.16)]. HIV-infected women had higher mean triglyceride (154 vs 101 mg/dL, P<0.0001) and lower mean high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (46 vs 55 mg/dL, P<0.0001). Most notable factors associated with higher prevalence of MetSynd among HIV-infected women included older age (OR=1.38 per 5 year increase, P<0.0001); higher body mass index; current smoking; HIV-1 RNA (OR=1.36, P=0.019, for >50,000 vs <80 copies/mL); and use of stavudine (OR=1.28, P=0.009). Nevirapine use was protective (OR=0.75, P=0.016). There was no significant association of MetSynd with ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitors (OR=1.15, P=0.134). CONCLUSIONS: MetSynd is more prevalent in HIV-seropositive than HIV-seronegative women. This increased prevalence was due to dyslipidemias rather than higher blood pressure, glucose, or waist circumference.