Gurung S, et al. – The intent here was to determine the prevalence of alcohol and drug–use diagnoses. The proposed predictors related to alcohol and drug–use diagnoses were also gauged, among HIV–positive patients in New York City (NYC). A link was brought to light between substance use diagnosis with viremia and low CD4 counts and hospital stays. The providers ought to screen for substance use in HIV–positive patients with poor health. The analysis of the extent of such comorbidity was crucial for intervention efforts.

Methods

• The electronic medical records (EMRs) of 4965 HIV-positive patients were appraised based on diagnostic codes.
• These patients attended a comprehensive care clinic in NYC in 2012.
• Multinomial logistic regression aided in speculating the odds of classification into substance use diagnosis grouping.

Results

• 12.7% of patients reported an alcohol use diagnosis documented in their EMR compared with more than one-quarter (26.4%) of patients having a recorded drug use diagnosis (p < 0.001).
• The regression model illustrated that older age and a history of a recent inpatient hospital stay independently speculated being in the Alcohol Only group, compared with the No Alcohol or Drugs group.
• A link was noted between years living with HIV, having an unsuppressed viral load, and having a recent inpatient hospital stay with higher odds of being in the Drugs Only and Alcohol and Drugs groups.
• Being women and men who have sex with men (MSM) correlated with decreased odds of being in the Drugs Only and Alcohol and Drugs groups.