Race and Sex Differences in ART Use and All-Cause Mortality

In Tennessee, blacks were less likely than nonblacks — and women were less likely than men — to receive ART. These disparities seemed to explain the lower rates of survival observed among blacks but not those among women.

HIV treatment outcomes have often been shown to differ by sex and race, but studies of this phenomenon have been marred by unequal access to antiretroviral therapy (ART). To address this limitation, investigators conducted a retrospective observational study of all-cause mortality among 2605 patients (38% black; 24% women) who were seen at a single Tennessee clinic between 1998 and 2005, when virtually all HIV-infected persons were covered by the state Medicaid program. Median follow-up was 2 years. During that time, individual physicians determined whether their patients might need to start ART or change their regimens, but all treatment-related decisions were made in a case-conference setting.

Thirty percent of patients, regardless of race…

Reviewing Author

Judith Feinberg, MD

Race and Sex Differences in ART Use and All-Cause Mortality

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Reviewing Author