Proteinuria Prevalent in Injection Drug Users With HIV

Prevalence is 2.9 times higher in drug users who have HIV than in those who do not

FRIDAY, Aug. 13 (HealthDay News) -- Proteinuria is common among injection drug users, especially those who have HIV, according to a study published online Aug. 12 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

In a cross-sectional analysis, Elizabeth L. Yanik, of the University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health in Chapel Hill, and colleagues evaluated 902 injection drug users (predominantly African-American), including 273 who had HIV, in the AIDS Linked to the Intravenous Experience cohort to characterize the prevalence and correlates of proteinuria.

The investigators identified proteinuria in 24.8 percent of participants, with the prevalence 2.9 times higher among participants with HIV (45 percent) than those without (16 percent). Antiretroviral therapy and features of illicit drug use history were not associated with proteinuria, but other factors, including age, health insurance, employment status, hepatitis B and C serostatus, diabetes, and hypertension were linked to the condition. In addition, multivariate analysis revealed that HIV infection, unemployment, increased age, diabetes, hepatitis C infection, and hypertension were significantly related to proteinuria.

"In addition to being a pathway to early-stage renal disease, proteinuria is a potent risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Evaluation of aggressive screening and disease-modification strategies in this high-risk population is warranted," the authors write.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Related Stories

No stories found.
logo
www.healthday.com