HIV, inflammation, and initiation of methamphetamine use in sexual and gender minorities assigned male at birth

Adam W. Carrico*, Daniel T. Ryan, Johnny Berona, Benjamin S. Dominguez, Joshua M. Schrock, Thomas W. McDade, Michael Newcomb, Richard T. D’Aquila, Brian Mustanski

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Methamphetamine use and HIV disproportionately affect sexual and gender minority (SGM) people assigned male at birth. Identifying risk factors for methamphetamine use is crucial to inform preventive interventions. In this cohort study with 1,296 SGM people assigned male at birth, ages 16 to 29, and who resided in Chicago, Poisson regression analyses indicated the prevalence of methamphetamine use increased from 2015 to 2023 [Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) = 1.07; 95% CI = 1.01 to 1.13; P = 0.02]. This increase was most pronounced among those ages 25 or older at baseline (IRR = 2.20; 95% CI = 1.33 to 3.63; P = 0.002), and 23.9 [Interquartile Range (IQR) = 22.1 to 26.9] was the median age of first-time methamphetamine use. In 826 participants with a prior HIV diagnosis or previous inflammatory measurements, Cox proportional-hazards models examined risk factors for incident, first-time methamphetamine use. Adjusting for other substance use, the rate of incident, first-time methamphetamine use was two-fold greater after HIV diagnosis [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 2.02; 95% CI = 1.27 to 3.23; P = 0.003]. For each SD higher C-reactive protein, the rate of incident, first-time methamphetamine use was 18% greater (aHR = 1.18; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.34; P = 0.008). HIV seroconversion and inflammation could increase the risk of initiating methamphetamine use in SGM people assigned male at birth.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere2407046121
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume121
Issue number41
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 8 2024

Funding

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. The RADAR cohort is supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (U01-DA036939; B.M., Principal Investigator (PI)) and additional support was provided by the Third Coast Center for AIDS Research (P30-AI117943; B.M. and R.T.D., PIs).

Keywords

  • HIV
  • inflammation
  • men who have sex with men
  • methamphetamine

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'HIV, inflammation, and initiation of methamphetamine use in sexual and gender minorities assigned male at birth'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this