Impacts of Medicaid Expansion on Health Insurance and Coverage Transitions among Women with or at Risk for HIV in the United States.

BACKGROUND: As employment, financial status, and residential location change, people can gain, lose, or switch health insurance coverage, which may affect care access and health. Among Women's Interagency HIV Study participants with HIV and participants at risk for HIV attending semiannual visits at 10 U.S. sites, we examined whether the prevalence of coverage types and rates of coverage changes differed by HIV status and Medicaid expansion in their states of residence. METHODS: Geocoded addresses were merged with dates of Medicaid expansion to indicate, at each visit, whether women lived in Medicaid expansion states. Age-adjusted rate ratios (RRs) and rate differences of self-reported insurance changes were estimated by Poisson regression. RESULTS: From 2008 to 2018, 3,341 women (67% Black, 71% with HIV) contributed 43,329 visits at aged less than 65 years (27% under Medicaid expansion). Women with and women without HIV differed in their proportions of visits at which no coverage (14% vs. 19%; p < .001) and Medicaid enrollment (61% vs. 51%; p < .001) were reported. Women in Medicaid expansion states reported no coverage and Medicaid enrollment at 4% and 69% of visits, respectively, compared with 20% and 53% of visits for those in nonexpansion states. Women with HIV had a lower rate of losing coverage than those without HIV (RR, 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.70 to 0.95). Compared with nonexpansion, Medicaid expansion was associated with lower coverage loss (RR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.72) and greater coverage gain (RR, 2.32; 95% CI, 2.02 to 2.67), with no differences by HIV status. CONCLUSIONS: Both women with HIV and women at high risk for HIV in Medicaid expansion states had lower coverage loss and greater coverage gain; therefore, Medicaid expansion throughout the United States should be expected to stabilize insurance for women and improve downstream health outcomes.

A new smoking cessation 'cascade' among women with or at risk for HIV infection.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to define a smoking cessation 'cascade' among USA women with and without HIV and examine differences by sociodemographic characteristics. DESIGN: An observational cohort study using data from smokers participating in the Women's Interagency HIV Study between 2014 and 2019. METHODS: We followed 1165 women smokers with and without HIV from their first study visit in 2014 or 2015 until an attempt to quit smoking within approximately 3 years of follow-up, initial cessation (i.e. no restarting smoking within approximately 6 months of a quit attempt), and sustained cessation (i.e. no restarting smoking within approximately 12 months of a quit attempt). Using the Aalen-Johansen estimator, we estimated the cumulative probability of achieving each step, accounting for the competing risk of death. RESULTS: Forty-five percent of smokers attempted to quit, 27% achieved initial cessation, and 14% achieved sustained cessation with no differences by HIV status. Women with some post-high school education were more likely to achieve each step than those with less education. Outcomes did not differ by race. Thirty-six percent [95% confidence interval (95% CI): 31-42] of uninsured women attempted to quit compared with 47% (95% CI: 44-50) with Medicaid and 49% (95% CI: 41-59) with private insurance. CONCLUSION: To decrease smoking among USA women with and without HIV, targeted, multistage interventions, and increased insurance coverage are needed to address shortfalls along this cascade.

Health insurance and AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) increases retention in care among women living with HIV in the United States.

Our objective was to examine the association between healthcare payer type and missed HIV care visits among 1,366 US women living with HIV (WLWH) enrolled in the prospective Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS). We collected secondary patient-level data (October 1, 2017-September 30, 2018) from WLWH at nine WIHS sites. We used bivariate and multivariable binary logistic regression to examine the relationship between healthcare payer type (cross-classification of patients' ADAP and health insurance enrollment) and missed visits-based retention in care, defined as no-show appointments for which patients did not reschedule. Our sample included all WLWH who self-reported having received HIV care at least once during the two consecutive biannual WIHS visits a year prior to October 1, 2017-September 30, 2018. In the bivariate model, compared to uninsured WLWH without ADAP, WLWH with private insurance + ADAP were more likely to be retained in care, as were WLWH with Medicaid only and private insurance only. In the adjusted model, WLWH with private insurance only were more likely to be retained in care compared to uninsured WLWH without ADAP. Private health insurance and ADAP are associated with increased odds of retention in care among WLWH.

The Costs of Silencing the Self and Divided Self in the Context of Physical Abuse, Racial/Ethnic Identity, and Medication Adherence in Women Living with HIV.

Racial/ethnic minority status and physical abuse history are risk factors for higher mortality rates and lower adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in women living with HIV (WLWH) in the United States. The current study tested the hypotheses that minority status and physical abuse history might lead women to silence the self (minimize and hide thoughts and feelings in order to avoid relational conflict, loss, and/or abuse) as measured by the Silencing the Self Scale (STSS), and that STSS might mediate and moderate relationships of physical abuse and racial/ethnic minority status with ART adherence. Divided Self (DS; acting in ways inconsistent with inner thoughts and feelings), an STSS subscale, was targeted for study along with the total STSS score. Participants were 513 women from the U.S. Women's Interagency HIV Study (M age = 46; 387, 75%, Black; 66, 13%, Hispanic; 60, 12%, White). Multiple logistic regressions indicated that across all racial/ethnic groups, physical abuse history related to higher DS and lower adherence. DS significantly mediated relationships between abuse and adherence. Compared to White women, Black women demonstrated worse ART adherence, but had lower total STSS. Racial/ethnic minority women and women with a physical abuse history who had higher DS had lower adherence than other groups. Results indicate that being a racial/ethnic minority or having a history of physical abuse may increase vulnerability to the deleterious effects of DS on ART adherence, findings that can help inform interventions to decrease health disparities in WLWH.

Quality of care for Black and Latina women living with HIV in the U.S.: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Ending the HIV epidemic requires that women living with HIV (WLWH) have access to structurally competent HIV-related and other health care. WLWH may not regularly engage in care due to inadequate quality; however, women's perspectives on the quality of care they receive are understudied. METHODS: We conducted 12 focus groups and three in-depth interviews with Black (90%) and Latina (11%) WLWH enrolled in the Women's Interagency HIV Study in Atlanta, GA, Birmingham, AL, Brooklyn, NY, Chapel Hill, NC, Chicago, IL, and Jackson, MS from November 2017 to May 2018 (n = 92). We used a semi-structured format to facilitate discussions about satisfaction and dissatisfaction with health care engagement experiences, and suggestions for improvement, which were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Themes emerged related to women's health care satisfaction or dissatisfaction at the provider, clinic, and systems levels and across Institute of Medicine-defined quality of care domains (effectiveness, efficiency, equity, patient-centeredness, safety and timeliness). Women's degree of care satisfaction was driven by: 1) knowledge-based care resulting in desired outcomes (effectiveness); 2) coordination, continuity and necessity of care (efficiency); 3) perceived disparities in care (equity); 4) care delivery characterized by compassion, nonjudgment, accommodation, and autonomous decision-making (patient-centeredness); 5) attention to avoiding side effects and over-medicalization (safety); and 6) limited wait time (timeliness). CONCLUSIONS: Quality of care represents a key changeable lever affecting engage in care among WLWH. The communities most proximally affected by HIV should be key stakeholders in HIV-related quality assurance. Findings highlight aspects of the health care experience valued by WLWH, and potential participatory, patient-driven avenues for improvement.

Oral health-related quality of life and unmet dental needs among women living with HIV.

BACKGROUND: Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) is a multidimensional, perception-based measure of how oral health affects social and physical functioning and self-image. OHRQoL is important for assessing women living with HIV (WLWH) who may have unmet dental needs and experience disparities that impact dental care accessibility. METHODS: In 2016, the authors conducted an assessment of OHRQoL among a national sample of 1,526 WLWH in the Women's Interagency HIV Study using the Oral Health Impact Profile instrument, which assesses the frequency of 14 oral health impact items. OHRQoL was measured using multivariable linear regression with a negative binomial distribution to assess the association between report of a recent unmet dental need and OHRQoL. RESULTS: "Fair or poor" oral health condition was reported by 37.8% (n = 576) of WLWH. Multivariable linear regression showed that unmet dental needs had the strongest positive association with poor OHRQoL (difference in Oral Health Impact Profile mean, 2.675; P < .001) compared with not having unmet needs. The frequency of dental care utilization was not associated with higher OHRQoL. Older age, fair or poor dental condition, smoking, symptoms of anxiety and loneliness, and poor OHRQoL were also associated with worse OHRQoL. CONCLUSION: Self-perceived impact of oral health on social and physical function and self-image, as measured by OHRQoL, may be an easily assessable but underrecognized aspect of OHRQoL, particularly among women aging with HIV. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Dentists should implement OHRQoL assessments in their management of the care of patients with HIV to identify those who do have significant oral health impacts.

Neighborhood Poverty and Control of HIV, Hypertension, and Diabetes in the Women's Interagency HIV Study.

Neighborhoods with high poverty rates have limited resources to support residents' health. Using census data, we calculated the proportion of each Women's Interagency HIV Study participant's census tract (neighborhood) living below the poverty line. We assessed associations between neighborhood poverty and (1) unsuppressed viral load [VL] in HIV-seropositive women, (2) uncontrolled blood pressure among HIV-seropositive and HIV-seronegative hypertensive women, and (3) uncontrolled diabetes among HIV-seropositive and HIV-seronegative diabetic women using modified Poisson regression models. Neighborhood poverty was associated with unsuppressed VL in HIV-seropositive women (> 40% versus ≤ 20% poverty adjusted prevalence ratio (PR), 1.42; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04-1.92). In HIV-seronegative diabetic women, moderate neighborhood poverty was associated with uncontrolled diabetes (20-40% versus ≤ 20% poverty adjusted PR, 1.75; 95% CI 1.02-2.98). Neighborhood poverty was associated with neither uncontrolled diabetes among HIV-seropositive diabetic women, nor uncontrolled hypertension in hypertensive women, regardless of HIV status. Women living in areas with concentrated poverty may need additional resources to control health conditions effectively.

The Relationship Between Discrimination and Missed HIV Care Appointments Among Women Living with HIV.

Receiving regular HIV care is crucial for maintaining good health among persons with HIV. However, racial and gender disparities in HIV care receipt exist. Discrimination and its impact may vary by race/ethnicity and gender, contributing to disparities. Data from 1578 women in the Women's Interagency HIV Study ascertained from 10/1/2012 to 9/30/2016 were used to: (1) estimate the relationship between discrimination and missing any scheduled HIV care appointments and (2) assess whether this relationship is effect measure modified by race/ethnicity. Self-reported measures captured discrimination and the primary outcome of missing any HIV care appointments in the last 6 months. Log-binomial models accounting for measured sources of confounding and selection bias were fit. For the primary outcome analyses, women experiencing discrimination typically had a higher prevalence of missing an HIV care appointment. Moreover, there was no statistically significant evidence for effect measure modification by race/ethnicity. Interventions to minimize discrimination or its impact may improve HIV care engagement among women.

Dental insurance, dental care utilization, and perceived unmet dental needs in women living with HIV: Results from the Women's Interagency HIV Study.

OBJECTIVES: Dental care is the most commonly cited unmet health-care service due to cost. Previous research has highlighted the unmet dental needs of people living with HIV (PLWH). Understanding associations among dental insurance availability, dental care utilization, and the presence of unmet dental needs among PLWH is a public health priority. METHODS: Oral health surveys were collected cross-sectionally (April-October 2016) among 1,442 women living with HIV (WLWH) in the Women's Interagency HIV Study. Logistic regression models were used to analyze the association between having versus not having dental insurance by type (Ryan White, private, Medicaid/Medicare) and two primary outcomes: a) typical frequency of dental visits (at least annually, less than annually) and b) reporting an unmet dental need in the past 6 months. RESULTS: All dental insurance types were associated with higher odds of receiving annual dental care and, for those with either Medicare/Medicaid or private insurance, lower odds of having an unmet dental need. When WLWH were asked to describe their oral health, poor self-reported condition was associated with both an unmet dental need (odds ratio [OR]: 4.52, 95 percent Confidence Interval [CI] [3.29-6.20]) and lower odds of annual dental care utilization (OR: 0.44, 95 percent CI [0.34-0.57]). Self-reported depressive symptom burden was also linked to having an unmet dental need (OR: 2.10, 95 percent CI [1.46-3.01]). CONCLUSIONS: Dental insurance coverage increases dental care utilization and is associated with better oral health among WLWH. In the era of health-care reform, dental insurance coverage may be instrumental for enhancing treatment outcomes.

Health Disparities and the Digital Divide: The Relationship between Communication Inequalities and Quality of Life among Women in a Nationwide Prospective Cohort Study in the United States.

Background: Communication inequalities can affect health-seeking behaviors yet the relationship between Internet use and overall health is inconclusive. Communication-related inequalities vary by race/ethnicity and SES but existing research primarily includes middle-class Whites. We therefore examined the relationship between communication-related inequalities-measured by daily Internet use-and health-related quality of life (QOL) using a nationwide prospective cohort study in the United States that consists of primarily low income, minority women. Methods: We examined Internet use and QOL among participants in the Women's Interagency HIV Study. Data collection occurred from October 2014-September 2015 in Chicago, New York, Washington DC, San Francisco, Atlanta, Chapel Hill, Birmingham/Jackson and Miami. We used multi-variable analyses to examine the relationship between daily Internet use and QOL. Results: The sample of 1,915 women was 73% African American and 15% Hispanic; 53% reported an annual income of ≤$12,000. Women with daily Internet use reported a higher QOL at six months, as did women with at least a high school diploma, income >$12,000, and non-White race; older women and those with reported drug use, depressive symptoms and loneliness had lower QOL. Conclusions: Overcoming communication inequalities may be one pathway through which to improve overall QOL and address public health priorities. Reducing communication-related inequalities-e.g, by providing reliable Internet access-and thus improving access to health promoting information, may lead to improved health outcomes.

Impact of Medicare Part D on mental health treatment and outcomes for dual eligible beneficiaries with HIV.

Depression is common among women with HIV and untreated depression can result in poor quality of life and worsen HIV outcomes. Women with HIV who are dually enrolled in Medicaid and Medicare faced a potential disruption in medication access when Medicare Part D was implemented in 2006. The goal of this study was to estimate the effects of Medicare Part D implementation on antidepressant use, depressive symptoms, and hospitalization in Medicaid-Medicare dual eligible women with HIV. This study used 2003-2008 data from the Women's Interagency HIV Study. The effects of Medicare Part D were estimated using a difference-in-differences approach, adjusting for temporal trends using a matched control group of Medicaid-only enrollees. Before Medicare Part D implementation, dual eligibles differed from Medicaid-only enrollees in antidepressant use and hospitalization, despite having identical prescription drug coverage through Medicaid. For dual enrollees, the transition to Medicare Part D was not associated with changes in antidepressant use, depressive symptoms, or hospitalization. We did not find disruptive effects on antidepressant use and related outcomes among dual eligibles in this study. Stable antidepressant use may be due to better access to medical care for dual eligibles through Medicare both before and after Medicare Part D implementation, which may have eclipsed any effects of the transition. It may also signal that classification of antidepressants as a protected drug class under Medicare Part D was effective in preventing psychiatric medication disruption.

Improved fracture prediction using different fracture risk assessment tool adjustments in HIV-infected women.

OBJECTIVES: A fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX) using clinical risk factors (CRFs) alone underestimates fracture risk in HIV-infected men. Our objective was to determine whether accuracy of FRAX would be improved by considering HIV as a cause of secondary osteoporosis, and further improved with addition of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry parameters in HIV-infected women. DESIGN: Subgroup analysis of Women's Interagency HIV Study. METHODS: We included 1148 women (900 HIV-infected and 248 uninfected) over age 40 with data to approximate FRAX CRFs and 10-year observational data for incident fragility fractures; 181 (20%) HIV-infected women had dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry data. Accuracy of FRAX was evaluated by the observed/estimated ratios of fracture in four models: CRFs alone; CRFs with HIV included as a cause of secondary osteoporosis; CRFs and femoral neck bone mineral density (FN BMD); and CRFs, FN BMD and trabecular bone score. RESULTS: FRAX using CRFs were less accurate in HIV-infected than uninfected women for major osteoporotic (observed/estimated ratio: 5.05 vs. 3.26, P < 0.001) and hip fractures (observed/estimated ratio: 19.78 vs. 7.94, P < 0.001), but improved when HIV was included as a cause of secondary osteoporosis. Among HIV-infected women, FRAX accuracy improved further with addition of FN BMD (observed/estimated ratio: 4.00) for hip fractures, but no further with trabecular bone score. CONCLUSION: FRAX using CRFs alone underestimated fracture risk more in older HIV-infected women than otherwise similar uninfected women. Accuracy is improved when including HIV as a cause of secondary osteoporosis for both major osteoporotic and hip fractures, whereas addition of FN BMD only improved accuracy for hip fracture.

Cumulative Burden of Depression and All-Cause Mortality in Women Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

Background: Research linking depression to mortality among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) has largely focused on binary "always vs never" characterizations of depression. However, depression is chronic and is likely to have cumulative effects on mortality over time. Quantifying depression as a cumulative exposure may provide a better indication of the clinical benefit of enhanced depression treatment protocols delivered in HIV care settings. Methods: Women living with HIV (WLWH), naive to antiretroviral therapy, from the Women's Interagency HIV Study were followed from their first visit in or after 1998 for up to 10 semiannual visits (5 years). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale. An area-under-the-curve approach was used to translate CES-D scores into a time-updated measure of cumulative days with depression (CDWD). We estimated the effect of CDWD on all-cause mortality using marginal structural Cox proportional hazards models. Results: Overall, 818 women contributed 3292 woman-years over a median of 4.8 years of follow-up, during which the median (interquartile range) CDWD was 366 (97-853). Ninety-four women died during follow-up (2.9 deaths/100 woman-years). A dose-response relationship was observed between CDWD and mortality. Each additional 365 days spent with depression increased mortality risk by 72% (hazard ratio, 1.72; 95% confidence interval, 1.34-2.20). Conclusions: In this sample of WLWH, increased CDWD elevated mortality rates in a dose-response fashion. More frequent monitoring and enhanced depression treatment protocols designed to reduce CDWD may interrupt the accumulation of mortality risk among WLWH.

Associations Between Medicare Part D and Out-of-Pocket Spending, HIV Viral Load, Adherence, and ADAP Use in Dual Eligibles With HIV.

BACKGROUND: The implementation of Medicare part D on January 1, 2006 required all adults who were dually enrolled in Medicaid and Medicare (dual eligibles) to transition prescription drug coverage from Medicaid to Medicare part D. Changes in payment systems and utilization management along with the loss of Medicaid protections had the potential to disrupt medication access, with uncertain consequences for dual eligibles with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who rely on consistent prescription coverage to suppress their HIV viral load (VL). OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effect of Medicare part D on self-reported out-of-pocket prescription drug spending, AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) use, antiretroviral adherence, and HIV VL suppression among dual eligibles with HIV. METHODS: Using 2003-2008 data from the Women's Interagency HIV Study, we created a propensity score-matched cohort and used a difference-in-differences approach to compare dual eligibles' outcomes pre-Medicare and post-Medicare part D to those enrolled in Medicaid alone. RESULTS: Transition to Medicare part D was associated with a sharp increase in the proportion of dual eligibles with self-reported out-of-pocket prescription drug costs, followed by an increase in ADAP use. Despite the increase in out-of-pocket costs, both adherence and HIV VL suppression remained stable. CONCLUSIONS: Medicare part D was associated with increased out-of-pocket spending, although the increased spending did not seem to compromise antiretroviral therapy adherence or HIV VL suppression. It is possible that increased ADAP use mitigated the increase in out-of-pocket spending, suggesting successful coordination between Medicare part D and ADAP as well as the vital role of ADAP during insurance transitions.

Sustainability of Statewide Rapid HIV Testing in Labor and Delivery.

The objective was to assess sustainability of a statewide program of HIV rapid testing (RT) for pregnant women presenting for delivery with unknown HIV status. This is a population-based retrospective cohort study of women delivered in Illinois hospitals (2012-15). Deidentified data on RT metrics from state-mandated surveillance reports were compared using descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests of trend. Over 95% of the 608,408 women delivered had documented HIV status at presentation. The rate of undocumented HIV status rose from 4.19 to 4.75% (p < 0.001). However, overall 99.60% of women with undocumented status appropriately received RT and the proportion who did not receive RT declined (p = 0.003). The number of neonates discharged with unknown HIV status declined (p = 0.011). RT identified 23 new HIV diagnoses, representing 4.62% of maternal HIV diagnoses. In conclusion, statewide perinatal HIV RT resulted in nearly 100% of Illinois mother-infant dyads with known HIV status. Sustained RT completion represents an important prevention safety net.

Effects of Health Insurance Interruption on Loss of Hypertension Control in Women With and Women Without HIV.

BACKGROUND: Among low-income women with and without HIV, it is a priority to reduce age-related comorbidities, including hypertension and its sequelae. Because consistent health insurance access has been identified as an important factor in controlling many chronic diseases, we estimated the effects of coverage interruption on loss of hypertension control in a cohort of women in the United States. METHODS: We analyzed prospective, longitudinal data from the Women's Interagency HIV Study. HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected women were included between 2005 and 2014 when they reported health insurance at consecutive biannual visits and had controlled hypertension, and were followed for any insurance break and loss of hypertension control. We estimated hazard ratios (HRs) by Cox proportional hazards regression with inverse-probability-of-treatment-and censoring weights (marginal structural models), and plotted the cumulative incidence of hypertension control loss. RESULTS: Among 890 HIV-infected women, the weighted HR for hypertension control loss comparing health insurance interruption to uninterrupted coverage was 1.37 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.99-1.91). Inclusion of AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) participation with health insurance modestly increased the HR (1.47; 95% CI, 1.04-2.07). Analysis of 272 HIV-uninfected women yielded a similar HR (1.39; 95% CI, 0.88-2.21). Additionally, there were indications of uninterrupted coverage having a protective effect on hypertension when compared with the natural course in HIV-infected (HR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.61-1.11) and HIV-uninfected (HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.52-1.19) women. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that health insurance continuity promotes hypertension control in key populations. Interventions that ensure coverage stability and ADAP access should be a policy priority.

Impact of Health Insurance, ADAP, and Income on HIV Viral Suppression Among US Women in the Women's Interagency HIV Study, 2006-2009.

BACKGROUND: Implementation of the Affordable Care Act motivates assessment of health insurance and supplementary programs, such as the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) on health outcomes of HIV-infected people in the United States. We assessed the effects of health insurance, ADAP, and income on HIV viral load suppression. METHODS: We used existing cohort data from the HIV-infected participants of the Women's Interagency HIV Study. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the time from 2006 to unsuppressed HIV viral load (>200 copies/mL) among those with Medicaid, private, Medicare, or other public insurance, and no insurance, stratified by the use of ADAP. RESULTS: In 2006, 65% of women had Medicaid, 18% had private insurance, 3% had Medicare or other public insurance, and 14% reported no health insurance. ADAP coverage was reported by 284 women (20%); 56% of uninsured participants reported ADAP coverage. After accounting for study site, age, race, lowest observed CD4, and previous health insurance, the hazard ratio (HR) for unsuppressed viral load among those privately insured without ADAP, compared with those on Medicaid without ADAP (referent group), was 0.61 (95% CI: 0.48 to 0.77). Among the uninsured, those with ADAP had a lower relative hazard of unsuppressed viral load compared with the referent group (HR, 95% CI: 0.49, 0.28 to 0.85) than those without ADAP (HR, 95% CI: 1.00, 0.63 to 1.57). CONCLUSIONS: Although women with private insurance are most likely to be virally suppressed, ADAP also contributes to viral load suppression. Continued support of this program may be especially critical for states that have not expanded Medicaid.

The impact of HIV status, HIV disease progression, and post-traumatic stress symptoms on the health-related quality of life of Rwandan women genocide survivors.

PURPOSE: We examined whether established associations between HIV disease and HIV disease progression on worse health-related quality of life (HQOL) were applicable to women with severe trauma histories, in this case Rwandan women genocide survivors, the majority of whom were HIV-infected. Additionally, this study attempted to clarify whether post-traumatic stress symptoms were uniquely associated with HQOL or confounded with depression. METHODS: The Rwandan Women's Interassociation Study and Assessment was a longitudinal prospective study of HIV-infected and uninfected women. At study entry, 922 women (705 HIV+ and 217 HIV-) completed measures of symptoms of post-traumatic stress and HQOL as well as other demographic, clinical, and behavioral characteristics. RESULTS: Even after controlling for potential confounders and mediators, HIV+ women, in particular those with the lowest CD4 counts, scored significantly worse on HQOL and overall quality of life (QOL) than did HIV- women. Even after controlling for depression and HIV disease progression, women with more post-traumatic stress symptoms scored worse on HQOL and overall QOL than women with fewer post-traumatic stress symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that post-traumatic stress symptoms were independently associated with HQOL and overall QOL, independent of depression and other confounders or potential mediators. Future research should examine whether the long-term impact of treatment on physical and psychological symptoms of HIV and post-traumatic stress symptoms would generate improvement in HQOL.

HIV and aging: state of knowledge and areas of critical need for research. A report to the NIH Office of AIDS Research by the HIV and Aging Working Group.

HIV risk behaviors, susceptibility to HIV acquisition, progression of disease after infection, and response to antiretroviral therapy all vary by age. In those living with HIV, current effective treatment has increased the median life expectancy to >70 years of age. Biologic, medical, individual, social, and societal issues change as one ages with HIV infection, but there has been only a small amount of research in this field. Therefore, the Office of AIDS Research of the National Institutes of Health commissioned a working group to develop an outline of the current state of knowledge and areas of critical need for research in HIV and Aging; the working groups' findings and recommendations are summarized in this report. Key overarching themes identified by the group included the following: multimorbidity, polypharmacy, and the need to emphasize maintenance of function; the complexity of assessing HIV versus treatment effects versus aging versus concurrent disease; the inter-related mechanisms of immune senescence, inflammation, and hypercoagulability; the utility of multivariable indices for predicting outcomes; a need to emphasize human studies to account for complexity; and a required focus on issues of community support, caregivers, and systems infrastructure. Critical resources are needed to enact this research agenda and include expanded review panel expertise in aging, functional measures, and multimorbidity, and facilitated use and continued funding to allow long-term follow-up of cohorts aging with HIV.

Association of race, substance abuse, and health insurance coverage with use of highly active antiretroviral therapy among HIV-infected women, 2005.

OBJECTIVES: We examined racial/ethnic disparities in highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) use and whether differences are moderated by substance use or insurance status, using data from the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS). METHODS: Logistic regression examined HAART use in a longitudinal cohort of women for whom HAART was clinically indicated in 2005 (N = 1354). RESULTS: Approximately 3 of every 10 eligible women reported not taking HAART. African American and Hispanic women were less likely than were White women to use HAART. After we adjusted for potential confounders, the higher likelihood of not using HAART persisted for African American but not for Hispanic women. Uninsured and privately insured women, regardless of race/ethnicity, were less likely than were Medicaid enrollees to use HAART. Although alcohol use was related to HAART nonuse, illicit drug use was not. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that expanding and improving insurance coverage should increase access to antiretroviral therapy across racial/ethnic groups, but it is not likely to eliminate the disparity in use of HAART between African American and White women with HIV/AIDS.