Depression and drug use impact health status among marginally housed HIV-infected individuals

A representative sample of HIV-positive homeless and marginally housed individuals completed SF-36 health surveys and responses were analyzed for associations with sociodemographic, health, health care, and drug use variables. Among 330 respondents, 83% were male, 43% were African American, and the median age was 39 years. Negative associations were found between female gender and vitality as well as physical functioning; older age and physical functioning; drug use or drug treatment and role-emotional, social functioning, body pain, as well as vitality; health care utilization and depression with all scales. It appeared that depression and drug-related variables were associated with multiple dimensions of health status in this population. Interventions to treat depression and addiction may improve the health status of HIV-infected HMH.