Association of History of Injection Drug Use with External Cause-Related Mortality Among Persons Linked to HIV Care in an Urban Clinic, 2001–2015

Kanal Singh, Geetanjali Chander, Bryan Lau, Jessie K. Edwards, Richard D. Moore, Catherine R. Lesko

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

High mortality rates among persons with HIV with a history of injection drug use (PWID) are thought to be driven in part by higher rates of external cause-related mortality. We followed 4796 persons aged 18–70 engaged in continuity HIV care from 2001 to 2015 until death or administrative censoring. We compared cause-specific (csHR) and subdistribution hazards (sdHR) of death due to external causes among PWID and persons who acquired their HIV infection through other routes (non-IDU). We standardized estimates on age, sex, race, and HIV-related health status. The standardized csHR for external cause-related death was 3.57 (95% CI 2.39, 5.33), and the sdHR was 3.14 (95% CI 2.16, 4.55). The majority of external cause-related deaths were overdose-related and standardized sdHR was 4.02 (95% CI 2.40, 6.72). Absolute rate of suicide was low but the csHR for PWID compared to non-IDU was most elevated for suicide (6.50, 95% CI 1.51, 28.03). HIV-infected PWID are at a disproportionately increased risk of death due to external causes, particularly overdose and suicide.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3286-3293
Number of pages8
JournalAIDS and behavior
Volume23
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2019

Keywords

  • Cause-specific mortality
  • Competing risks
  • Injection drug use
  • Injury-related mortality
  • Survival

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Social Psychology
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Infectious Diseases

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