GENDER-RELATED DIFFERENCES IN THE SPECTRUM OF HIV DISEASE IN THE BAYAMON AREA, PUERTO-RICO

We compare prevalence (by actual presence or history of condition) rat es of selected AIDS-defining conditions across genders in a sample of 1,498 HIV-infected participants who visited our health service facilit ies between mid 1992 and early 1996. The comparisons were performed gl obally (considering all subjects) and on a subsample of participants w hose most probable mode of infection with HIV was through (self-report ed) use of injecting drugs. Global analysis revealed no significant di fferences across genders for any of the conditions considered; the mos t prevalent condition being Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Subsample- specific analysis (injecting drug users), however, revealed that women from this subgroup were likelier to have (present or by history) at l east one AIDS-defining condition; they were also significantly likelie r to specifically report candidiasis and Pneumocystis carinii pneumoni a.