Depression and drug use impact health status among marginally housed HIV-infected individuals

AIDS Patient Care STDS. 2003 Aug;17(8):401-6. doi: 10.1089/108729103322277411.

Abstract

A representative sample of HIV-positive homeless and marginally housed individuals completed SF-36 health surveys and responses were analyzed for associations with sociodemographic, health, health care, and drug use variables. Among 330 respondents, 83% were male, 43% were African American, and the median age was 39 years. Negative associations were found between female gender and vitality as well as physical functioning; older age and physical functioning; drug use or drug treatment and role-emotional, social functioning, body pain, as well as vitality; health care utilization and depression with all scales. It appeared that depression and drug-related variables were associated with multiple dimensions of health status in this population. Interventions to treat depression and addiction may improve the health status of HIV-infected HMH.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Delivery of Health Care
  • Depression / epidemiology
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology*
  • HIV Infections / etiology
  • Health Status*
  • Housing / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Ill-Housed Persons*
  • Male
  • Poverty
  • Risk Factors
  • San Francisco / epidemiology
  • Sex Factors
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires