Characteristics and outcome of HIV infection in gypsies in the Spanish VACH Cohort

Objective To study the characteristics of HIV infection in the gypsy (Roma) population in Spain, as compared with those of the Caucasian, non-gypsy majority. Design Cross-sectional, historical cohort study from the Spanish VACH Cohort. Methods Patients attending VACH clinics between 1 June 2004 and 30 November 2004 were classified according to their racial and ethnic origin as “gypsies”, Caucasian non-gypsy Spanish natives (CNGN), and “other” (the last being excluded from this study). Their sociodemographic and clinico-epidemiological characteristics were compared, as well as the Kaplan–Meier curves of time to AIDS, or death, or disease progression (either of the 2 outcomes).Results4819 (48%) of 10,032 cases included in the VACH database were eligible: 210 (4.2%) were gypsies and 4252 (84.8%) were CNGN. Differences were observed in age, household, academic, inmate, marital, and employment history. Injecting drug use had been the most frequent mechanism of transmission in both groups, but to a greater extent among gypsies (72% versus 50%; P<0.000). Sex distribution, CD4 cell counts, and viral loads at the first visit were similar in the 2 groups, as was the percentage of patients with previous AIDS, percentage receiving antiretrovirals, and percentage subsequently starting antiretroviral therapy. Up to 1 April 2005, 416 new AIDS cases and 85 deaths were recorded. The percentage of these outcomes did not differ between groups, but log-rank test showed a shorter time to AIDS and disease progression among gypsies. Conclusions The sociodemographic characteristics of gypsies, the largest minority in the VACH Cohort, show differences relative to those of CNGN. HIV-related outcomes suggest that gypsies have a poorer prognosis (AU)

Objetivo estudiar las características de la infección por el VIH en gitanos en España, en comparación con las de la mayoría caucásica no gitana (CNG).Métodos estudio transversal y de cohortes históricas en la Cohorte VACH. Clasificamos a los pacientes que acudieron a las clínicas participantes en VACH entre el 1 de junio de 2004 y el 30 de noviembre de 2004 de acuerdo a su raza y etnia, como «gitanos», «nativos españoles CNG» u «otros» (estos, excluidos de este estudio). Comparamos sus características sociodemográficas y clinicoepidemiológicas, así como sus curvas de Kaplan–Meier del tiempo hasta sida, muerte o progresión de la enfermedad (cualquiera de ambos).Resultados4819 (48%) de 10.032 casos recogidos en la base de datos de VACH fueron incluidos en el estudio: 210 (4,2%) eran gitanos y 4.252 (84,8%) eran nativos CNG. Observamos diferencias en sus distribuciones por edad, domicilio, estudios, antecedentes penales, situación laboral y marital. La inyección de drogas había sido el mecanismo de transmisión del VIH más frecuente en los dos grupos, pero más marcadamente en los gitanos (72% frente a 50%; p<0,000). La distribución por sexos, los recuentos de linfocitos CD4 y las cargas virales en la primera visita fueron similares en ambos grupos, así como las proporciones de pacientes con sida previo y las de quienes estaban ya en, o iniciaron entonces, tratamiento antirretroviral. Hasta el 1 de abril de 2005 se registraron 416 nuevos casos de sida y 85 muertes. La proporción de ambos resultados fue similar en ambos grupos, pero la prueba del rango logarítmico demostró una evolución más rápida a sida y a progresión de la (..) (AU)

Characteristics and outcome of HIV infection in gypsies in the Spanish VACH Cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To study the characteristics of HIV infection in the gypsy (Roma) population in Spain, as compared with those of the Caucasian, non-gypsy majority. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, historical cohort study from the Spanish VACH Cohort. METHODS: Patients attending VACH clinics between 1 June 2004 and 30 November 2004 were classified according to their racial and ethnic origin as "gypsies", Caucasian non-gypsy Spanish natives (CNGN), and "other" (the last being excluded from this study). Their sociodemographic and clinico-epidemiological characteristics were compared, as well as the Kaplan-Meier curves of time to AIDS, or death, or disease progression (either of the 2 outcomes). RESULTS: 4819 (48%) of 10,032 cases included in the VACH database were eligible: 210 (4.2%) were gypsies and 4252 (84.8%) were CNGN. Differences were observed in age, household, academic, inmate, marital, and employment history. Injecting drug use had been the most frequent mechanism of transmission in both groups, but to a greater extent among gypsies (72% versus 50%; P<0.000). Sex distribution, CD4 cell counts, and viral loads at the first visit were similar in the 2 groups, as was the percentage of patients with previous AIDS, percentage receiving antiretrovirals, and percentage subsequently starting antiretroviral therapy. Up to 1 April 2005, 416 new AIDS cases and 85 deaths were recorded. The percentage of these outcomes did not differ between groups, but log-rank test showed a shorter time to AIDS and disease progression among gypsies. CONCLUSIONS: The sociodemographic characteristics of gypsies, the largest minority in the VACH Cohort, show differences relative to those of CNGN. HIV-related outcomes suggest that gypsies have a poorer prognosis.