Persistence of second-line biologics in psoriasis after first-line biologic failure: a nationwide cohort study from the French health insurance database (SNDS).

BACKGROUND: Many biologics are available for psoriasis and have been compared in real-life studies based on their persistence (i.e. time between initiation and discontinuation). However, after first-line biologic failure, data are lacking on the choice of second-line biologic among the four available classes [tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi); interleukin (IL)-12/IL-23 inhibitor (IL-12/IL-23i); IL-17 inhibitors (IL-17i); and IL-23 inhibitors (IL-23i)]. OBJECTIVES: To compare the long-term persistence of available second-line biologics in psoriasis according to prior exposure. METHODS: This nationwide cohort study involved the administrative healthcare database of the French health insurance scheme linked to a hospital discharge database. Participants were adults with psoriasis, defined as having at least two prescriptions of a topical vitamin D derivative within a 2-year period, with initiation of a second-line biologic between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2021. We included patients who initiated a second-line biologic directly after first-line discontinuation (i.e. without a 'washout' period). The end of follow-up was 30 June 2022. Discontinuation was defined as > 90 days without filling a prescription for the same treatment after the period covered by the previous prescription. Comparison of persistence by biologic class involved using propensity score-weighted Cox models (inverse probability treatment weighting) and adjustment of specific systemic nonbiologics (time-dependent variables). RESULTS: We included 8693 patients [mean (SD) age 50 (14) years; 50.5% male]; 2824 (32.5%) started TNFi, 1561 (18.0%) IL-12/IL-23i, 2707 (31.1%) IL-17i and 1601 (18.4%) IL-23i. Overall, 1- and 3-year persistence rates were 60% and 30%, respectively. After weighting and adjustment, persistence was longer with IL-12/IL-23i [weighted hazard ratio (HRw) 0.68, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.62-0.76)], IL-17i (HRw 0.70, 95% CI 0.64-0.78) and IL-23i (HRw 0.36, 95% CI 0.31-0.42) than TNFi, except after first-line IL-17i treatment, with no difference between IL-12/IL-23i, IL-17i and TNFi second-line persistence. Persistence was longer with IL-23i as a second-line treatment than IL-12/IL-23i (HRw 0.53, 95% CI 0.44-0.63) and IL-17i (HRw 0.51, 95% CI 0.44-0.60), regardless of first-line treatment, with no difference seen between IL-12/IL-23i and IL-17i (HRw 0.97, 95% CI 0.87-1.09). CONCLUSIONS: This real-life study suggests the longer persistence of IL-23i than TNFi, IL-17i and IL-12/IL-23i as second-line treatment for psoriasis. Persistence rates for all biologics remained low at 3 years.

Pediatric Outpatient Prescriptions in Countries With Advanced Economies in the 21st Century: A Systematic Review.

Importance: An international comparison of pediatric outpatient prescriptions (POPs) is pivotal to investigate inadequate practices at the national scale and guide corrective actions. Objective: To compare annual POP prevalence among Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member countries. Evidence Review: Two independent reviewers systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and institutes of public health or drug agency websites for studies published since 2000 and reporting POP prevalence (expressed as number of patients aged <20 years with ≥1 POP per 1000 pediatric patients per year) in OECD member countries or large geographic areas within them. Risk of bias was assessed for exhaustiveness and representativeness. Prevalence ratios (PRs) were used to compare the highest and lowest POP prevalence among countries overall, by levels of Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification for the overall pediatric population, and by age group (ie, ages <5-6 vs ≥5-6 years), stratifying on prescription-only drug (POD) status. Findings: Among 11 studies performed on 3 regional and 8 national medicoadministrative databases in 11 countries, 35 552 550 pediatric patients were included. The overall risk of bias was low (10 studies were representative [90.9%], and the prevalence denominator included nonusers of health care for 9 studies [81.8%]). Prevalence of 1 or more POP per year ranged from 480 to 857 pediatric patients per 1000 in Sweden and France, respectively (PR, 1.8 [95% CI, 1.8-1.8]). Overall, among 8 studies reporting ATC level 1 drugs, Denmark had the lowest POP prevalence (eg, systemic hormonal preparations: 9 pediatric patients per 1000 per year) and France the highest (eg, systemic hormonal preparation: 216 pediatric patients per 1000 per year). Among 8 studies reporting ATC level 2 drugs for PODs, the PR between France and Denmark was 108.2 (95% CI, 108.2-108.2) for systemic corticosteroids and 2.1 (95% CI, 2.1-2.1) for drugs for obstructive airway disease. The PR for antibiotics was 3.4 (95% CI, 3.4-3.4) between New Zealand and Sweden. For pediatric patients aged 5 to 6 years or older, the PR for sex hormones was 2.1 (95% CI, 2.1-2.1) between Denmark and France. Among 7 studies reporting ATC level 5 drugs, the prevalence of the 10 most prevalent PODs was less than 100 pediatric patients per 1000 per year in Scandinavian countries and the Netherlands and less than 300 pediatric patients per 1000 per year in France and New Zealand. Conclusions and Relevance: This study found large between-country variations in POPs, which may suggest substantial inappropriate prescriptions. The findings may suggest guidance for educational campaigns and regulatory decisions in some OECD member countries.

Social and structural factors and engagement in HIV care of sub-Saharan African migrants diagnosed with HIV in the Paris region.

Migrants from sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are often diagnosed at an advanced stage of HIV, and many of them have harsh living conditions. We aimed to evaluate the entry into care after HIV diagnosis and examine the related social determinants. The ANRS PARCOURS study is a life-event survey conducted in 2012-2013 in the Paris region among. Time between HIV diagnosis of SSA migrants living diagnosed HIV positive in France and HIV care and the determinants was assessed yearly by using mixed-effects logistic regression models. Among a total of 792 participants, 94.2% engaged in HIV care within the year of HIV diagnosis, 4.3% in the following year and 2.5% beyond the second year after diagnosis. The participants were more likely to engage in HIV care during years when they were effectively covered by health insurance and if the HIV test was carried out at the initiative of the doctor. Immigration for economic reasons or owing to threats in his/her country of origin was associated with delayed engagement in HIV care. Additionally, 4.3% of treated participants discontinued HIV care at least once at the time of the survey and more often if diagnosed at an advanced HIV disease stage and financially dependent.

Access to health insurance coverage among sub-Saharan African migrants living in France: Results of the ANRS-PARCOURS study.

BACKGROUND: Migrants' access to care depends on their health insurance coverage in the host country. We aimed to evaluate in France the dynamic and the determinants of health insurance coverage acquisition among sub-Saharan migrants. METHODS: In the PARCOURS life-event retrospective survey conducted in 2012-2013 in health-care facilities in the Paris region, data on health insurance coverage (HIC) each year since arrival in France has been collected among three groups of sub-Saharan migrants recruited in primary care centres (N = 763), centres for HIV care (N = 923) and for chronic hepatitis B care (N = 778). Year to year, the determinants of the acquisition and lapse of HIC were analysed with mixed-effects logistic regression models. RESULTS: In the year of arrival, 63.4% of women and 55.3% of men obtained HIC. But three years after arrival, still 14% of women and 19% of men had not obtained HIC. HIC acquisition was accelerated in case of HIV or hepatitis B infection, for migrants arrived after 2000, and for women in case of pregnancy and when they were studying. Conversely, it was slowed down in case of lack of a residency permit and lack of financial resources for men. In addition, women and men without residency permits were more likely to have lost HIC when they had one. CONCLUSION: In France, the health insurance system aiming at protecting all, including undocumented migrants, leads to a prompt access to HIC for migrants from sub-Saharan Africa. Nevertheless, this access may be impaired by administrative and social insecurities.

Increase in Unemployment over the 2000's: Comparison between People Living with HIV and the French General Population.

BACKGROUND: Despite improved health, unemployment has increased among people living with HIV (PlwHIV) over the last decade. However, since the economic recession of 2008, unemployment also increased in the French general population. This paper aimed to determine if the increase in the unemployment rate in the HIV population was higher than that in the French general population. METHODS: We used data from the ANRS-Vespa study, a repeated cross-sectional survey among two national representative samples of PlwHIV followed at hospitals in France in 2003 and 2011. We compared employment and unemployment rates between HIV-infected people (overall and according to period of HIV diagnosis) and the French general population in 2003 and 2011, using multivariate Poisson regressions adjusted for individual sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS: The employment rate among PlwHIV was consistently lower than that in the general population in 2003 and 2011. In contrast, there was a trend of an increasing unemployment rate difference between PlwHIV and the general population: PlwHIV's unemployment rate was 1.48 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16-1.90) times higher than that of the general population in 2003, versus 1.62 (95% CI: 1.34-1.96) times higher in 2011. This unemployment rate difference was the highest for PlwHIV diagnosed in or after 2008 (adjusted prevalence rate ratio: 2.06; 95% CI: 1.59-2.67). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that in time of economic recession, an increasing proportion of PlwHIV may be excluded from the labor market although they are willing to re-enter it. This constitutes a major issue relative to social consequences of chronic disease.

Determinants of virological response to antiretroviral therapy: socio-economic status still plays a role in the era of cART. Results from the ANRS-VESPA 2 study, France.

BACKGROUND: Disparities in combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) outcomes have been consistently reported among people living with HIV (PLWHIV). The present study aims at investigating the mechanisms underlying those disparities among PLWHIV in France. METHODS: We used data from the Vespa2 survey, a large national cross-sectional survey, representative of HIV-infected people followed at hospitals in 2011. Among participants diagnosed ≥1996, HIV treatment-naive at the time of cART initiation and on cART for at least 12 months, the frequency of sustained virological suppression (SVS; undetectable viral load [<50 copies/ml] for at least 6 months) at the time of the survey, was assessed and its social determinants were measured through logistic regression, accounting for clinical and biological determinants of response to cART. RESULTS: Among 1,246 participants, 77.7% had achieved SVS. SVS was less frequent among those unemployed (0.6 [range 0.3-1.0]) and those with the lowest level of education (0.4 [range 0.2-0.9]). The late presenters, diagnosed at a CD4+ T-cell count <200/mm3 (0.5 [range 0.3-0.9]) and the late starters, diagnosed at a CD4+ T-cell count >200 but initiating cART at CD4+ T-cell count <200 (0.3 [range 0.1-0.8]) were less likely than the ideal starters (≥350 CD4+ T-cells/mm3 at cART initiation) to achieve SVS, as were those who reported suboptimal adherence versus those reporting optimal adherence (0.4 [range 0.2-0.7]). In bivariate analyses, material deprivation, discrimination and a weak social network were also associated with a poorer treatment response. CONCLUSIONS: Structural social factors remain strong determinants of treatment response and should be addressed in a broad approach of care, but wider political issues should also be investigated.

A reduced factor structure for the PROQOL-HIV questionnaire provided reliable indicators of health-related quality of life.

OBJECTIVES: To identify a simplified factor structure for the PROQOL-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) questionnaire to improve the measurement of the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of HIV-positive patients in clinical care and research settings. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: HRQL data were collected using the eight-dimension PROQOL-HIV questionnaire from 2,537 patients (VESPA2 study). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) validated a simpler four-factor structure and assessed measurement invariance (MI). Multigroup analysis assessed the effect of sex, age, and antiretroviral therapy (ART) on the resulting factor scores. Correlations with symptom and Short Form (SF)-12 self-reports assessed convergent validity. RESULTS: Item analysis, EFA, and CFAs confirmed the validity [comparative fit index (CFI), 0.948; root mean square error of approximation, 0.064] and reliability (α's ≥ 0.8) of four dimensions: physical health and symptoms, health concerns and mental distress, social and intimate relationships, and treatment-related impact. Strong MI was demonstrated across sex and age (decrease in CFI <0.01). A multiple-cause multiple-indicator model indicated that HRQL correlated as expected with sex, age, and the ART status. Correlations of HRQL, symptom reports, and SF-12 scores evidenced convergent validity criterion. CONCLUSION: The simplified factor structure and scoring scheme for PROQOL-HIV will allow clinicians to monitor with greater reliability the HRQL of patients in clinical care and research settings.

Socioeconomic gradient in work disability in diabetes: evidence from three occupational cohorts.

BACKGROUND: The role of socioeconomic status in work disability among employees with diabetes is not well known. We examined the association between socioeconomic status and work disability among employees with and without diabetes taking into account comorbid conditions. METHODS: We used individual participant data from three occupational cohorts from Finland, France and the UK (employees with diabetes, n=2170, age-matched and sex-matched controls without diabetes, n=4340). In all cohorts, survey data were linked with register data and the employees were followed up on average for 4.4 years. Socioeconomic status was based on occupational titles. Work disability (sickness absence and disability pension) was indexed as the numbers of disability days and episodes. The study-specific estimates were pooled using meta-analysis and effect modifications were studied with meta-regression. RESULTS: The average numbers of disability days and episodes per year were 1.5-3.5 times higher for persons with diabetes compared to those without. Among persons with diabetes, the risk of work disability was almost four times higher in the lowest compared to the highest occupational position (relative index of inequality (RII) for days 3.82; 95% CI 2.77 to 5.56; RII for episodes 3.80; 95% CI 3.13 to 4.61). This association was consistent in both sexes and regardless of comorbid conditions. In relative terms, the association of socioeconomic status and work disability was similar among those free of diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: A strong socioeconomic gradient in work disability was observed among people with and without diabetes.

Delayed HIV diagnosis and initiation of antiretroviral therapy: inequalities by educational level, COHERE in EuroCoord.

OBJECTIVES: In Europe and elsewhere, health inequalities among HIV-positive individuals are of concern. We investigated late HIV diagnosis and late initiation of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) by educational level, a proxy of socioeconomic position. DESIGN AND METHODS: We used data from nine HIV cohorts within COHERE in Austria, France, Greece, Italy, Spain and Switzerland, collecting data on level of education in categories of the UNESCO/International Standard Classification of Education standard classification: non-completed basic, basic, secondary and tertiary education. We included individuals diagnosed with HIV between 1996 and 2011, aged at least 16 years, with known educational level and at least one CD4 cell count within 6 months of HIV diagnosis. We examined trends by education level in presentation with advanced HIV disease (AHD) (CD4 <200 cells/µl or AIDS within 6 months) using logistic regression, and distribution of CD4 cell count at cART initiation overall and among presenters without AHD using median regression. RESULTS: Among 15 414 individuals, 52, 45,37, and 31% with uncompleted basic, basic, secondary and tertiary education, respectively, presented with AHD (P trend <0.001). Compared to patients with tertiary education, adjusted odds ratios of AHD were 1.72 (95% confidence interval 1.48-2.00) for uncompleted basic, 1.39 (1.24-1.56) for basic and 1.20 (1.08-1.34) for secondary education (P < 0.001). In unadjusted and adjusted analyses, median CD4 cell count at cART initiation was lower with poorer educational level. CONCLUSIONS: Socioeconomic inequalities in delayed HIV diagnosis and initiation of cART are present in European countries with universal healthcare systems and individuals with lower educational level do not equally benefit from timely cART initiation.

To what extent is women's economic situation associated with cancer screening uptake when nationwide screening exists? A study of breast and cervical cancer screening in France in 2010.

PURPOSE: In France, larger social inequalities are reported for cervical cancer screening, based on individual practice, than for breast cancer screening for which organized screening exists. Our aim was to investigate the association between women's economic situation and breast and cervical cancer screening. METHODS: We used data from a large French national health survey conducted in 2010. The economic situation was assessed using the number of adverse economic conditions respondents were facing, based on three variables (low income, lacking food, and perceived financial difficulties). Logistic regressions were adjusted for socioeconomic and sociodemographic characteristics, healthcare use and insurance, and health behaviors. RESULTS: Mammography was less frequent among women experiencing two or more adverse economic conditions, whereas Pap smear was less frequent among women experiencing at least one adverse economic condition. For both screenings, higher rates were observed among women who lived in the Paris region. Sociodemographic indicators and health behaviors were associated with Pap smear, whereas healthcare use and insurance characteristics were associated with mammography. CONCLUSIONS: The women's economic situation is an important determinant of breast and cervical cancer screening in France in 2010. Alleviating economic barriers to female cancers screening should be a priority in future programs implementation.

Health-related quality of life of people living with HIV followed up in hospitals in France: comparing trends and correlates between 2003 and 2011 (ANRS-VESPA and VESPA2 national surveys).

In recent years, France has witnessed both structural changes in the population of people living with HIV and a relative improvement in the social representation of HIV infection. However, potential changes in people's day-to-day experience with HIV have not been documented. We used data from the national surveys ANRS-VESPA (2003) and VESPA2 (2011) to compare the levels and patterns of correlates of health-related quality of life (HRQL) in adult HIV-infected patients followed up in French hospitals over a period of eight years. Mean physical and mental SF-12 scores were compared (VESPA, n = 2072; and VESPA2, n = 2267) using analysis of variance (ANOVA) F tests. Heckman regression models were then used to identify independent correlates of physical and mental quality of life in the two surveys, while accounting for possible bias due to missing score values. A common set of potential socio-demographic, clinical, behavioral, and psychosocial correlates was tested. Individuals reported a decrease in physical quality of life in VESPA2 compared with VESPA (mean score (standard error): 47.5 (0.2) versus 49.6 (0.2), p < .0001), and better mental HRQL (44.3 (0.3) versus 42.3 (0.3), p < 0.0001). In both surveys, financial difficulties and patient-perceived experience of rejection behaviors by medical staff were independently associated with impaired physical and mental quality of life. Older age and unemployment were independently associated with impaired physical quality of life. Immigrants from Sub-Saharan Africa reported better mental quality of life. Findings show that quality of life levels in adult HIV-infected patients followed up at hospital in France has significantly, yet modestly, changed in recent years. However, the pattern of quality of life correlates has remained relatively stable. The impact of patient-provider relationships on self-reported outcomes is confirmed. Further research is needed to identify potential differences in quality of life correlates in specific subgroups of patients, such as men who have sex with men, women, immigrants, and injecting drug users.

Black-white disparities in overweight and obesity trends by educational attainment in the United States, 1997-2008.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined racial and educational disparities in recent population-based trends. METHODS: We analyzed data of a nationally representative sample of 174,228 US-born adults in the National Health Interview Survey from 1997 to 2008. We determined mean BMI trends by educational attainment and race and black-white prevalence ratios (PRs) for overweight/obesity (BMI > 25 kg/m(2)) using adjusted Poisson regression with robust variance. RESULTS: From 1997 to 2008, BMI increased by ≥1 kg/m(2) in all race-sex groups, and appeared to increase faster among whites. Blacks with greater than a high school education (GHSE) had a consistently higher BMI over time than whites in both women (28.3 ± 0.14 to 29.7 ± 0.18 kg/m(2) versus 25.8 ± 0.58 to 26.5 ± 0.08 kg/m(2)) and men (28.1 ± 0.17 kg/m(2) to 29.0 ± 0.20 versus 27.1 ± 0.04 kg/m(2) to 28.1 ± 0.06 kg/m(2)). For participants of all educational attainment levels, age-adjusted overweight/obesity was greater by 44% (95% CI: 1.42-1.46) in black versus white women and 2% (1.01-1.04) in men. Among those with GHSE, overweight/obesity prevalence was greater (PR: 1.52; 1.49-1.55) in black versus white women, but greater (1.07; 1.05-1.09) in men. CONCLUSIONS: BMI increased steadily in all race-sex and education groups from 1997 to 2008, and blacks (particularly women) had a consistently higher BMI than their white counterparts. Overweight/obesity trends and racial disparities were more prominent among individuals with higher education levels, compared to their counterparts with lower education levels.

Sociodemographic factors associated with the dental health of persons with diabetes in France.

This paper describes and compares the oral health status among people with and without diabetes in France, and analyzes the related socioeconomic factors. The study is based on data from the cross-sectional national health survey conducted in France from 2002 to 2003, which included 19,231 people over 35 years of age, among whom 1,111 reported having diabetes. Data were collected through interviews that inquired about oral health status and use of dental care services, income, educational level, health insurance, place of residence, and birthplace. The prevalence of oral health problems was higher among subjects who had diabetes, compared with those who were nondiabetic (16.4% vs. 13.4%). Dental care utilization during the survey period was reported to be 8.7% among subjects who were diabetic versus 12.9% among those who were nondiabetic. The subjects with diabetes were more likely to have dental problems (OR = 1.47, CI = 1.03-2.08) and wear removable dentures (partial and complete) when their income was lower (OR = 2.17, CI = 1.52-3.10). There were social inequalities in oral health among people with diabetes in France according to income level.

Burden of HIV disease and comorbidities on the chances of maintaining employment in the era of sustained combined antiretoviral therapies use.

OBJECTIVES: Employment status is a major predictor of health status and living conditions, especially among HIV-infected people, a predominantly working-aged population. We aimed to quantify the risk of work cessation following HIV diagnosis in France in 2004-2010 and to measure the respective burden of HIV-related characteristics and of associated comorbidities on this risk. DESIGN: We used data from a multicenter cohort made of a diversified sample of recently diagnosed HIV-1-infected adults, antiretroviral treatment-naive at baseline in 2004-2008 (ANRS-COPANA cohort). Detailed information on living conditions and clinical and biological characteristics were collected prospectively. METHODS: The risk of work cessation among the 376 working-aged participants employed at baseline was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Characteristics associated with the risk of work cessation were identified using multivariate Cox models. RESULTS: The cumulative probability of work cessation reached 14.1% after 2 years and 34.7% after 5 years. Diabetes, hypertension and, to a lesser extent, signs of depression were associated with increased risks of work cessation after accounting for socio-occupational characteristics [adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence interval): 5.7 (1.7-18.8), 3.1 (1.5-6.4) and 1.6 (0.9-2.9), respectively]. In contrast, HIV disease severity and treatment and experience of HIV-related discrimination were not statistically associated with the risk of work cessation. CONCLUSION: The risk of work cessation during the course of HIV disease has remained substantial in the most recent period in France. Comorbidities, but not characteristics of HIV disease itself, substantially affect chances of maintaining employment. This provides insights into strategies for limiting the burden of HIV disease for individuals and society.

Gender, socio-economic status, migration origin and neighbourhood of residence are barriers to HIV testing in the Paris metropolitan area.

In France, numerous HIV patients still discover their HIV status as a result of AIDS-related symptoms. We investigated factors related to the absence of any HIV testing in men and women separately, using the data from the SIRS cohort, which includes 3023 households representative of the Paris metropolitan area in 2005. The failure to use HIV testing services was studied in relation to individual socio-economic and demographic factors as well as some psychosocial characteristics. The effect of the characteristics of the residential neighbourhood was also analysed using multilevel models. In multivariate analysis, the factors associated with no history of HIV testing in women were an age >44 years, the absence of any pregnancy during the previous 15 years, a low education level, unemployment, to have had no or only one steady relationship in one's lifetime, to have a religious affiliation and to live in a poor neighbourhood. In men, factors were age <30 or >44 years, to have had no or only one steady relationship during one's lifetime, to have a religious affiliation and to perceive oneself as being at low risk of HIV infection. An association according to the "migration origin" was observed among men: foreigners and French men born to (at least) one foreign parent were more likely not to have been tested than French men born to two French parents. We conclude that gender, social and territorial differences exist in HIV testing among people living in the Paris area. More systematic proposals of HIV test in primary care would be an effective policy to overcome these persistent social stratifications.

Socioeconomic position and cardiovascular disease in adults with and without diabetes: United States trends, 1997-2005.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes and its cardiovascular complications are more common in adults of low socioeconomic position (SEP). In the US, the past decade has seen the establishment of many programs to reduce cardiovascular risk in persons with diabetes, but their effect on socioeconomic disparities is uncertain. OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate recent time trends in socioeconomic disparities in cardiovascular disease (CVD) among persons with and without diabetes. PARTICIPANTS AND DESIGN: Two hundred fifty-five thousand nine hundred sixty-six individuals aged 25 years or older included in the National Health Interview Survey between 1997 and 2005. MEASUREMENTS: Educational attainment was used as a marker for SEP and self-reported history of CVD as the main outcome. Educational disparities were measured using prevalence rate ratios (PRR) and the relative index of inequalities (RII). MAIN RESULTS: Among adults with diabetes, CVD prevalence was persistently higher in those who did not complete high school (HS) than in college graduates (adjusted PRR [aPRR] 1.20, 95% confidence interval [95%CI] 1.05-1.38 in 1997-1999, and aPRR 1.12, 95% CI 1.00-1.25 in 2003-2005). However, the HS vs. college graduates disparity in CVD declined from 1997-1999 (aPRR 1.20, 95% CI 1.04-1.37) to 2003-2005 (aPRR 1.01, 95% CI 0.90-1.12). Among adults without diabetes educational disparities in CVD widened markedly over time. CONCLUSIONS: Concurrently with improvements in diabetes management, the widening of socioeconomic health disparities has remained limited in the diabetic population during the past decade. This provides evidence for the potential impact of improvements in disparities in health care access and process, such as experienced among persons with diabetes, in limiting socioeconomic health disparities.

Socioeconomic differences in the impact of HIV infection on workforce participation in France in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to measure the difference in employment rates between HIV-seropositive and HIV-seronegative persons and to establish whether this difference varied according to the HIV-infected persons' socioeconomic position as defined by education level. METHODS: We used data from the VESPA (VIH: Enquête Sur les Personnes Atteintes) study, a large cross-sectional survey conducted among a nationally representative sample of 2932 HIV-infected patients in France. Age-, gender-, nationality-, and education-standardized employment rates were estimated with the French general population as the reference. The differences in employment rates with the general population were computed overall and according to education level. RESULTS: Compared with that of the general population, the overall employment rate was 25% lower (95% confidence interval [CI]=16%, 32%) among HIV-infected patients diagnosed before 1994 and 9% lower (95% CI = 5%, 16%) among HIV-infected patients diagnosed from 1994 onward. The difference in employment rates with the general population was significantly higher among patients with a low education level. The employment rate of highly educated HIV-infected patients diagnosed from 1994 onward did not differ from that of the general population. CONCLUSIONS: HIV infection was associated with decreased workforce participation among those with a low education level but not among highly educated individuals.