We opted to be as inclusive as possible in our definition of HAART in order to maximize the sensitivity of the analysis; this definition is unlikely to exclude any preferred drug combinations. To compare the 6-month utilization rate with national statistics on ED use, we confirmed that the annual rate was twice the 6-month rate. We used HIVRN medical record data for all adult patients to determine ED visit rates for the first 6 months

of 2003, the second 6 months of 2003, and the full year. Because ED use at providers outside the HIVRN may not be recorded in medical records, the ED visit rate obtained from medical record data may understate the true rate. However, there is no reason to believe that any potential undercount would vary differentially AZD5363 concentration over time, and thus the medical record data can provide relative rates for different time periods. We used χ2 tests to examine the association between individual sociodemographic variables and any ED use. Logistic regression was performed to analyse factors associated with having at least one visit to the ED, and with being admitted to the hospital from the ED. The multivariate model included variables presumed a priori to influence ED utilization. The Andersen–Aday model of the determinants of healthcare utilization provided the basis for our a priori assumptions. The model considers three sets of variables:

predisposing characteristics, such as demographics; enabling factors, such Apoptosis Compound Library ic50 as health insurance; and need factors, such as severity of current disease [25,26]. Multivariate analyses of any ED visit were conducted on 913 persons having complete MycoClean Mycoplasma Removal Kit data for all variables. The analyses of factors associated with hospital admission were conducted only among those who visited the ED and had no missing data (n=280). Analyses were conducted using stata 9.0 (StataCorp, College Station, TX, USA). In all regressions, adjustment was made for site of care, to account for variations in practice patterns and demographic differences across clinics. This was done by adding an indicator variable for each clinic (except one reference clinic) to each model. All models were checked using

likelihood ratio tests and the Hosmer–Lemeshow goodness of fit test [27]. For variables with multiple categories, we report, as a ‘group test,’ the Wald test for joint significance of all levels of the variable. The majority of the participants were male (68%) and of minority ethnicity (52% black and 14% Hispanic) (Table 2). The median age was 45 years (range 20–85 years). HIV risk factors included men who have sex with men (MSM) (34%), heterosexual transmission (30%) and IDU (27%). The majority (69%) were on HAART. As of the first test available for the patient in 2003, the median CD4 count was 376 cells/μL (range 0–2040 cells/μL) and the median HIV-1 RNA was 461 copies/mL (range 0–750 000 copies/mL), with 37% being undetectable.