2024
The impact of emergency guidance to the COVID‐19 pandemic on treatment entry, retention and mortality among patients on methadone in Ukraine
Ivasiy R, Madden L, Meteliuk A, Machavariani E, Ahmad B, Zelenev A, Desai M, Bromberg D, Polonsky M, de Leon S, Farnum S, Islam Z, Altice F. The impact of emergency guidance to the COVID‐19 pandemic on treatment entry, retention and mortality among patients on methadone in Ukraine. Addiction 2024, 119: 1585-1596. PMID: 38807448, DOI: 10.1111/add.16565.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchOpioid agonist therapyTake-home dosesCOVID-19 guidancePre-COVID cohortAgonist therapyOptimal doseTreatment retentionEmergency guidanceEffective HIV prevention strategiesAdult HIV prevalenceHIV prevention strategiesMinistry of HealthImprove treatment retentionMethadone dosePatient survivalTime-dependent predictorsProspective cohortHIV prevalencePredictors of treatment retentionGovernmental clinicsPrimary outcomeHazard ratioPatient enrollmentPatientsMethadone patients
2023
Substance use and other correlates of HIV infection among transwomen and men who have sex with men in Perú: Implications for targeted HIV prevention strategies for transwomen
Cyrus E, Lama J, Sanchez J, Sullivan D, Leon S, Villaran M, Vagenas P, Vu D, Coudray M, Altice F. Substance use and other correlates of HIV infection among transwomen and men who have sex with men in Perú: Implications for targeted HIV prevention strategies for transwomen. PLOS Global Public Health 2023, 3: e0001464. PMID: 36962933, PMCID: PMC10022005, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001464.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHIV risk factorsRisk factorsHIV riskSubstance usePrevention strategiesCross-sectional biobehavioral surveyHIV prevention strategiesTargeted prevention strategiesDifferent risk factorsSubstance use patternsBinary logistic regressionHIV infectionHIV prevalenceBiobehavioral surveysHigh prevalenceChi-square analysisSecondary data analysisHigh riskDrug useAlcohol dependenceCocaine useLogistic regressionMSMClinical researchRelated correlates
2021
HIV care continuum among cisgender and transgender women sex workers in Greater Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Ranjit YS, Gibson BA, Altice FL, Kamarulzaman A, Azwa I, Wickersham JA. HIV care continuum among cisgender and transgender women sex workers in Greater Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. AIDS Care 2021, 35: 784-790. PMID: 34723714, PMCID: PMC9056582, DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2021.1995839.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTransgender women sex workersHIV care continuumAntiretroviral treatmentSex workersCare continuumWomen sex workersTransgender womenImportant key populationProportion of womenRespondent-driven sampling studyEvidence-based strategiesAntiretroviral therapyHIV careHIV prevalenceHIV epidemicHIVKey populationsWomenKuala LumpurCisgender womenCount testUnique needsSmall proportionTherapyPopulation
2019
Effect of expanding opioid agonist therapies on the HIV epidemic and mortality in Ukraine: a modelling study
Tan J, Altice FL, Madden LM, Zelenev A. Effect of expanding opioid agonist therapies on the HIV epidemic and mortality in Ukraine: a modelling study. The Lancet HIV 2019, 7: e121-e128. PMID: 31879250, PMCID: PMC7289179, DOI: 10.1016/s2352-3018(19)30373-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid agonist therapyNew HIV infectionsHigh HIV burdenHIV infectionMinistry of HealthOAT coverageAgonist therapyHIV burdenHIV incidenceBuprenorphine maintenance therapyPublic Health CenterMaintenance therapyHIV outcomesHIV prevalenceHIV transmissionMedication procurementHIV epidemicHealth centersHIV preventionTreatment goalsPWIDOAT expansionDisease controlSexual riskInfectionEstimated Impact of Targeted Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis: Strategies for Men Who Have Sex with Men in the United States
Elion RA, Kabiri M, Mayer KH, Wohl DA, Cohen J, Beaubrun AC, Altice FL. Estimated Impact of Targeted Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis: Strategies for Men Who Have Sex with Men in the United States. International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health 2019, 16: 1592. PMID: 31067679, PMCID: PMC6539923, DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16091592.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsYoung Latino MSMYoung Black MSMPre-exposure prophylaxisBlack MSMLatino MSMPrEP useHIV Incidence Risk IndexHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmissionUse of PrEPNon-PrEP usersLowest NNTHIV infectionNNT valuesHIV prevalenceHIV epidemicHIV preventionMSM populationSubsequent infectionInfection reductionMSMPrevalenceIncidenceVirus transmissionPrEPProphylaxisEvaluation of HIV risk and outcomes in a nationally representative sample of incarcerated women in Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and Ukraine
Ranjit YS, Azbel L, Krishnan A, Altice FL, Meyer JP. Evaluation of HIV risk and outcomes in a nationally representative sample of incarcerated women in Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and Ukraine. AIDS Care 2019, 31: 793-797. PMID: 30701981, PMCID: PMC6510603, DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2019.1573969.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAntiretroviral Therapy, Highly ActiveAzerbaijanCommunicable DiseasesComorbidityContinuity of Patient CareFemaleHealth Services AccessibilityHepatitis CHIV InfectionsHumansKyrgyzstanMaleMental DisordersMiddle AgedPrevalencePrisonersPrisonsSubstance-Related DisordersSurveys and QuestionnairesSyphilisUkraineConceptsAlcohol use disorderAntiretroviral therapyHIV preventionHIV riskHIV care continuumCells/μLHigh-risk groupComorbid substance useEffective HIV preventionGlobal HIV preventionHigh rateHepatitis CIncarcerated womenHIV testingHIV incidenceHIV prevalencePsychiatric comorbidityDrug injectionRepresentative sampleCare continuumRisk groupsPsychiatric disordersMost womenUse disordersTreatment interventions
2018
Estimating HIV and HCV prevalence among people who inject drugs in 5 Ukrainian cities using stratification-based respondent driven and random sampling
Zelenev A, Shea P, Mazhnaya A, Meteliuk A, Pykalo I, Marcus R, Fomenko T, Prokhorova T, Altice FL. Estimating HIV and HCV prevalence among people who inject drugs in 5 Ukrainian cities using stratification-based respondent driven and random sampling. International Journal Of Drug Policy 2018, 67: 91-101. PMID: 30503695, PMCID: PMC6537868, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2018.09.010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHCV prevalenceHIV prevalenceHCV prevalence estimatesHigh HCV prevalencePrevalence of HIVCross-sectional studyLow-resource settingsInverse probability weightsHCV antibodiesHCV infectionTreatment strategiesHIVTreatment prioritiesPrevalence estimatesHealth outcomesBetter preventionPrevalenceLocal epidemicsHCVPWIDOverall sampleSelection biasPreventionProbability weightsRegular basis
2017
Strategies to Implement Pre-exposure Prophylaxis with Men Who Have Sex with Men in Ukraine
Dubov A, Fraenkel L, Yorick R, Ogunbajo A, Altice FL. Strategies to Implement Pre-exposure Prophylaxis with Men Who Have Sex with Men in Ukraine. AIDS And Behavior 2017, 22: 1100-1112. PMID: 29214409, PMCID: PMC10866617, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-017-1996-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPre-exposure prophylaxisLow self-perceived riskSelf-perceived riskInjectable PrEPMSM preferencesPrEP administrationPrEP initiationDaily PrEPHIV prevalencePatient preferencesRisk groupsRisk populationsMedical carePrEPLatent class analysisProphylaxisMenDelivery programsMSMUkrainian menProgram deliverySexGroupClass analysisSuccessful deliveryPrevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Cisgender and Transgender Women Sex Workers in Greater Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Wickersham JA, Gibson BA, Bazazi AR, Pillai V, Pedersen CJ, Meyer JP, El-Bassel N, Mayer KH, Kamarulzaman A, Altice FL. Prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Cisgender and Transgender Women Sex Workers in Greater Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Sexually Transmitted Diseases 2017, 44: 663-670. PMID: 28708696, PMCID: PMC5636657, DOI: 10.1097/olq.0000000000000662.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTransgender women sex workersHuman immunodeficiency virusInconsistent condom useCisgender women sex workersHIV prevalenceImmunodeficiency virusSex workersWomen sex workersDrug useCondom useHigh human immunodeficiency virusGlobal HIV prevalenceLast HIV testLifetime HIV testingPooled HIV prevalenceRespondent-driven samplingSTI prevalenceHIV testHIV burdenHIV testingMedian timeSTI preventionΧ testChlamydia trachomatisIndependent sample t-test
2015
The syndemic of HIV, HIV-related risk and multiple co-morbidities among women who use drugs in Malaysia: Important targets for intervention
Loeliger KB, Marcus R, Wickersham JA, Pillai V, Kamarulzaman A, Altice FL. The syndemic of HIV, HIV-related risk and multiple co-morbidities among women who use drugs in Malaysia: Important targets for intervention. Addictive Behaviors 2015, 53: 31-39. PMID: 26436520, PMCID: PMC4679569, DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2015.09.013.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDrug-using womenHIV testingFuture public health interventionsSubstance useHIV risk behaviorsSyndemics of HIVThird of womenPublic health problemInfrequent condom usePoor health outcomesHarm reduction effortsSubstance use disordersPublic health interventionsCross-sectional surveyUnstable living situationsSocial supportAntiretroviral therapyHIV prevalenceHIV transmissionHIV treatmentInjection paraphernaliaDrug injectionSocial comorbiditiesPsychiatric illnessMost womenHIV Prevalence Among People Who Inject Drugs in Greater Kuala Lumpur Recruited Using Respondent-Driven Sampling
Bazazi AR, Crawford F, Zelenev A, Heimer R, Kamarulzaman A, Altice FL. HIV Prevalence Among People Who Inject Drugs in Greater Kuala Lumpur Recruited Using Respondent-Driven Sampling. AIDS And Behavior 2015, 19: 2347-2357. PMID: 26358544, PMCID: PMC4743744, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-015-1191-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHIV prevalenceHIV epidemicPrevention interventionsRapid HIV testingHIV prevention interventionsRespondent-driven samplingHIV testingAppropriate treatmentHigh prevalencePWIDCommunity surveillanceKuala LumpurPrevalenceBehavioral assessmentOverall sampleDrugsInterventionRecruitment sitesEpidemicInterview siteHIVGeographic regionsGreater Kuala LumpurDiscrete geographic regionsLumpurThe Impact of Implementing a Test, Treat and Retain HIV Prevention Strategy in Atlanta among Black Men Who Have Sex with Men with a History of Incarceration: A Mathematical Model
Lima VD, Graf I, Beckwith CG, Springer S, Altice FL, Coombs D, Kim B, Messina L, Montaner JS, Spaulding A. The Impact of Implementing a Test, Treat and Retain HIV Prevention Strategy in Atlanta among Black Men Who Have Sex with Men with a History of Incarceration: A Mathematical Model. PLOS ONE 2015, 10: e0123482. PMID: 25905725, PMCID: PMC4408043, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0123482.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHIV prevalenceNew infectionsCondom useSexual risk behavior changePrevalence of HIVHIV prevention strategiesCumulative numberRisk behavior changeHistory of incarcerationBlack menHIV incidenceHIV transmissionHIV epidemicPrevention strategiesPrevalenceInfectionMortalityMenPrison releaseBehavior changeStatus quo scenarioSexUnited StatesYearsSettingBurden of substance use disorders, mental illness, and correlates of infectious diseases among soon-to-be released prisoners in Azerbaijan
Azbel L, Wickersham JA, Wegman MP, Polonsky M, Suleymanov M, Ismayilov R, Dvoryak S, Rotberga S, Altice FL. Burden of substance use disorders, mental illness, and correlates of infectious diseases among soon-to-be released prisoners in Azerbaijan. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2015, 151: 68-75. PMID: 25861943, PMCID: PMC4447560, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.02.034.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAntiretroviral therapyDrug injectionInfectious diseasesPrevalence of HCVSignificant independent correlatesLow HIV prevalenceHigh-endemic countriesHigh diagnostic rateEvidence-based addiction treatmentSubstance use disordersHealth assessment surveyHCV epidemicHepatitis BHCV diagnosisHIV statusHIV prevalenceART coverageHIV treatmentIndependent correlatesNew medicationsHIV epidemicHeterosexual riskHealth SurveyEndemic countriesHIVCost-Effectiveness Analysis of Brief and Expanded Evidence-Based Risk Reduction Interventions for HIV-Infected People Who Inject Drugs in the United States
Song DL, Altice FL, Copenhaver MM, Long EF. Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Brief and Expanded Evidence-Based Risk Reduction Interventions for HIV-Infected People Who Inject Drugs in the United States. PLOS ONE 2015, 10: e0116694. PMID: 25658949, PMCID: PMC4320073, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0116694.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsQuality-adjusted life yearsOpioid substitution therapyHIV infectionHIV incidenceHIV prevalenceEvidence-based risk reduction interventionDynamic HIV transmission modelHolistic Health Recovery ProgramBehavioral HIV prevention interventionsFuture HIV incidenceTotal medical costsHIV transmission modelHIV prevention interventionsGeneral adult populationRisk reduction interventionsCost-effectiveness analysisSubstitution therapySexual transmissionHIV programsPrevention interventionsMedical costsTreatment settingsLife yearsReduction interventionsUS population
2013
A review of medical and substance use co-morbidities in Central Asian prisons: Implications for HIV prevention and treatment
Vagenas P, Azbel L, Polonsky M, Kerimi N, Mamyrov M, Dvoryak S, Altice FL. A review of medical and substance use co-morbidities in Central Asian prisons: Implications for HIV prevention and treatment. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2013, 132: s25-s31. PMID: 23932844, PMCID: PMC3825758, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2013.07.010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid substitution therapyDrug-related health problemsHIV preventionHealth problemsHIV sentinel surveillanceHIV prevention interventionsConcentration of HIVHIV incidenceHIV casesSubstitution therapyHIV prevalenceSentinel surveillancePrevention interventionsRisk populationsDisease RegistryTreatment servicesHealth reportingSubstance useHealthcare servicesRecent dataPrevalenceCrucial interventionPreventionInterventionOnline databasesBurden of Infectious Diseases, Substance Use Disorders, and Mental Illness among Ukrainian Prisoners Transitioning to the Community
Azbel L, Wickersham JA, Grishaev Y, Dvoryak S, Altice FL. Burden of Infectious Diseases, Substance Use Disorders, and Mental Illness among Ukrainian Prisoners Transitioning to the Community. PLOS ONE 2013, 8: e59643. PMID: 23527238, PMCID: PMC3602355, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0059643.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSubstance use disordersUse disordersInfectious diseasesHealth SurveyTreatment needsPrevalence of HIVContinuity of careAlcohol use disorderEpidemic of incarcerationHealth assessment surveyMultiple substance useViral hepatitisHIV incidenceHIV statusHIV prevalenceDrug injectionHIV epidemicHIV preventionSerological testingHealth StudyMental illnessHIVSubstance usePrevalenceDisease
1998
Predictors of HIV Infection Among Newly Sentenced Male Prisoners
Altice F, Mostashari F, Selwyn P, Checko P, Singh R, Tanguay S, Blanchette E. Predictors of HIV Infection Among Newly Sentenced Male Prisoners. JAIDS Journal Of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 1998, 18: 444-453. PMID: 9715840, DOI: 10.1097/00042560-199808150-00005.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdolescentAdultAge FactorsBlood TransfusionConfounding Factors, EpidemiologicConnecticutEmergency Medical ServicesForecastingHematologic DiseasesHepatitis, Viral, HumanHIV AntibodiesHIV SeropositivityHIV-1HumansMaleMental DisordersPrevalencePrimary Health CarePrisonersRisk FactorsSexual BehaviorSexually Transmitted DiseasesSubstance Abuse, IntravenousTuberculosisWounds, GunshotConceptsHIV infectionAppropriate risk-reduction interventionsPotent combination antiretroviral therapyElevated aspartate aminotransferase levelsSelf-reported high-risk behaviorsHIV testing resourcesCombination antiretroviral therapyHIV-seropositive personsInjection drug useAspartate aminotransferase levelsAge-adjusted ratesRisk reduction interventionsMultivariate regression analysisHigh-risk behaviorsPrevalence of individualsComprehensive HIVAntiretroviral therapyHIV careAminotransferase levelsHIV serosurveyIndependent predictorsLaboratory markersHIV statusHIV prevalenceBlack race