"Predictors of functional health outcomes among women living with HIV"

Friday, November 08, 2013 — Poster Session IV
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.	FAES Academic Center (Upper-Level Terrace)	NCMHD	DEVBIO-7

Authors

B. Rahim-Williams
J.A. Erlen
K.A. Kim
W.A. Henderson

Abstract

Background: Functional health status is an important indicator of health outcomes for women LWHIV. Methods: A nested case-control cohort of 161 women LWHIV (62% non-white, mean age 41.9 years (range 24-61, ± 7.62) on ART. We measured functional health status by the Medical Outcomes Survey HIV Physical Function Scale. Higher scores indicated better status. We measured disease severity by CD4 counts and viral load, tested a mediation model of functional health status by race/ethnicity using structural equation modeling, and for mediation, tested intervening variables; CD4 counts, viral load, and social support. Results: Non-white women had higher physical health score than white women (43.9 ± 11.5 vs. 36.7 ± 11.2; p<.001) after adjusting for age, education, CD4, viral load, and social support. There was a positive prediction of functional health status by social support after adjusting for other predictors (Beta =.317 (standardized), z = 4.198, p<.001). There was no other significant prediction of functional health status, of CD4 by race, age, and education, of viral load by race, age, and education, nor of social support by race, age, and education. Conclusion: Results indicate significant functional differences in non-white verses white women, with better functional status reported in non-white women.