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Gender and Age Patterns in HSV-2 and HIV Infection Among Non-Injecting Drug Users in New York City

Year: 2010

Type: article

Abstract: In Brief Objective: To examine prevalence of and associations between herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection and HIV infection among never-injecting heroin and cocaine drug users (NIDUs) in New York City. Methods: Subjects were recruited from patients entering the Beth Israel drug detoxification program. Informed consent was obtained, a structured questionnaire including demographics, drug use history, and sexual risk behavior was administered, and a blood sample was collected for HIV and HSV-2 antibody testing. Results: A total of 1418 subjects who had never (lifetime) injected drugs (NIDUs) were recruited between July 2005 through June 2009. Subjects were primarily male (76%), and black (67%) or Hispanic (25%), reported recent crack cocaine use (74%), and had a mean age of 42 years. Eleven percent of males reported male-with-male sexual (MSM) behavior. The prevalence of both viruses was high: for HSV-2, 61% among the total sample, 50% among non-MSM males, 85% among females, and 72% among MSM; for HIV, 16% among the total sample, 12% among non-MSM males, 20% among females, and 46% among MSM. HSV-2 was associated with HIV (OR = 3.2, 95% CI: 2.3–4.5; PR = 2.7, 95% CI: 2.0–3.7). Analyses by gender and age groups indicated different patterns in mono- and coinfection for the 2 viruses. Discussion: HSV-2 and HIV rates among these NIDUs are comparable with rates in sub-Saharan Africa. Additional prevention programs, tailored to gender and age groups, are urgently needed. New platforms for providing services to NIDUs are also needed. HIV seroprevalence was 16% and HSV-2 seroprevalance 61%, and there was a strong association between the 2 viruses, OR = 3.2 among noninjecting heroin and cocaine users in New York. There were also statistically significant differences by gender and age in the patterns of the 2 viruses suggesting a need for interventions that are tailored to these characteristics. The prevalence of and association between HSV-2 and HIV among these noninjecting drug users is similar to that in many sub-Saharan countries.

Source: Sexually Transmitted Diseases

DOI: 10.1097/olq.0b013e3181e1a64a