Saez HV, Valencia ES, Susser E; International Conference on AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS. 2002 Jul 7-12; 14: abstract no. G12533.

Reinier van Arkel GGz s-Hertogenbosch, s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands

BACKGROUND: To report on concurrent TB and HIV prevalence among homeless mentally ill men at the peak of TB epidemic in NYC in the early 1990's. We report on mentally ill men in a large shelter (600-1,000 in study period). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of TB and HIV data of all 90 men discharged to community living by the shelter psychiatric program over a 2 years period. Men were offered a tuberculin skin test (PPD),a chest radiograph follow-up, HIV testing and counseling. We also collected psychiatric diagnosis, demographic and shelter stays information. RESULTS: Most men were African-American (77%) or Latinos (16%) and 85.5% was under 40 years. The majority had schizophrenia (65.6%) and many had a secondary substance abuse diagnosis (66.52% ). Shelters stays ranged from less than 1 month to over 4 years (median: 5 months). Completion tests rates were high: PPD 94.5 % (n=85); chest radiographs 85.5% (n=77); and HIV testing 69% (n=62). On PPD testing, 5 men refused (5.5%), 33 were positive (38.8%), 42 negative (49.4%) and 12 inconclusive (14.1%). On follow-up chest radiographs, 6 men showed active TB infection - 7% of PPD tested or 7.8% of chest radiographed. On HIV testing, results were obtained for 62 of 90 men (68.9%): 12 men (19.3%) tested positive and 50 men (80.7%) tested negative. All of them had a history of either intravenous drug use and/or homosexual (Susser et al 1993). Out of 12 HIV positive, 9 had a positive PPD (75%) and 3 (25%) were inconclusive. On chest radiographs, 6 HIV positive (50%) showed signs of active TB - including 1 inconclusive PPD. One had extrapulmonary TB. All active TB cases were in HIV positive men. CONCLUSIONS: There was a very high concurrent prevalence of TB and HIV in this sample of mentally ill men at the peak of the latest TB epidemic in NYC. Preventive interventions to reduce risks for HIV and TB need to become an integral part of services for this population in NYC.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• African Americans
• Counseling
• Disease Outbreaks
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Humans
• Male
• Mental Disorders
• Prevalence
• Tuberculin Test
• epidemiology

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0013781

UI: 102251279

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