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Substance Abuse Treatment and Hospitalization among a Cohort of HIV‐Infected Individuals with Alcohol Problems
Author(s) -
Palepu Anita,
Horton Nicholas J.,
Tibbetts Nicole,
Meli Seville,
Samet Jeffrey H.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1097/01.alc.0000156101.84780.45
Subject(s) - medicine , substance abuse , methadone maintenance , psychiatry , cohort , odds ratio , confidence interval , alcohol abuse , cohort study , mental health , methadone
Background: We examined the association of substance abuse treatment services on hospitalization among participants in the HIV‐Alcohol Longitudinal Cohort (HIV‐ALC) study of HIV‐infected individuals with a history of alcohol problems. Methods: A standardized questionnaire that inquired about demographics, substance use, use of substance abuse treatment services, and hospitalization was administered to 349 HIV‐ALC participants. We defined substance abuse treatment services as any of the following in the past 6 months: 12 weeks in a half‐way house or residential facility, 12 visits to a substance abuse counselor or mental health professional, or participation in any methadone maintenance program. Results: Almost one third of this cohort were hospitalized in the past 6 months. Substance abuse treatment was not significantly associated with hospitalization adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.0; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.7–1.5), whereas homelessness (AOR 2.3; 95% CI 1.5–3.6), injection drug use (AOR 1.7; 95% CI 1.0–2.7), severity of alcohol dependence (AOR 1.02; 95% CI 1.00–1.05), CD4 cell count (AOR 0.999; 95% CI 0.998–1.00), and HIV RNA (AOR 1.1; 95% CI 1.0–1.2) were independently associated with increased odds of hospitalization over time. Conclusions: Engagement in substance abuse treatment was not associated with a decrease in hospital use by HIV‐infected individuals with a history of alcohol problems. The period of substance abuse treatment may present an opportunity to address health care utilization patterns of HIV‐infected individuals.