5th International AIDS Conference


Montreal, Quebec, Canada — Jun 4-9, 1989

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The HIV epidemic beyond the epicenter: "inner city" epidemiology in a predominantly white suburban population.

Int Conf AIDS 1989 Jun 4-9; 5:170 (abstract no. A.558)
Shepp D, Kaplan M, Smith M, Muggeo C; Cornell Univ. Medical College, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, NY, USA

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the epidemiology of HIV infection seen in a university-affiliated teaching hospital located in a suburban setting beyond the New York City limits in Long Island.

METHODS: Hospital and clinic records of the Div. of Infectious Disease were used to create a computerized data base. Referral patterns were determined using home phone area codes.

RESULTS: From 1981 to 1988, 808 patients with HIV infection were seen. 63% were from Nassau and Suffolk Co. (area 516), and 26% from Queens/Brooklyn (area 718). The characteristics of the group (in %) are as follows: MALE 76, FEMALE 24, WHITE 79, NON-WHITE 21, GAY 40, IVDA 36, HETERO 10, TRANSF 5, CHILD 4, UNK 5. The population was predominantly white in all risk groups. However, 59/195 (30%) of women were non-white compared with 110/613 (18%) men (p less than 0.01) and 25/79 (32%) heteros were non-white compared with 144/729 (20%) with other risks (p=0.02). 68% of hetero cases occurred in women. No trends were discernible when case distribution was analyzed by year.

CONCLUSION: An epidemiologic pattern of HIV infection like that seen in non-white inner city populations, with an increased proportion of cases occurring in women, IVDAs and by heterosexual contact, is present in a largely white population drawn mostly from suburban Long Island. However, even in this setting, non-white women are over represented among heterosexual cases and in the group as a whole.

Keywords: AEGIS, Whites, Suburban Population, Disease Outbreaks, Caucasoid Race, HIV Infections, Homosexuality, Male, Substance Abuse, Intravenous, Heterosexuality, Demography, Risk-Taking, Risk, New York City, Human, Female, Male, Child, epidemiology, ICA5KWDaegis,whites,suburbanpopulation,diseaseoutbreaks,caucasoidrace,hivinfections,homosexuality,male,substanceabuse,intravenous,heterosexuality,demography,risk-taking,risk,newyorkcity,human,female,male,child,epidemiology,ica5

890604
A558

Copyright © 1989 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.