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. 2018 Aug;62(2):77-84.

The prevalence and characteristics of HIV/AIDS patients presenting at a chiropractic outpatient clinic in Toronto, Ontario. A retrospective, observational study

H Stephen Injeyan  1 , Gaelan Connell  2 , Katelyn Foster  3 , Deborah Kopansky-Giles  1   4 , Guy Sovak  1 , Tony Tibbles  1
Affiliations

The prevalence and characteristics of HIV/AIDS patients presenting at a chiropractic outpatient clinic in Toronto, Ontario. A retrospective, observational study

H Stephen Injeyan et al. J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2018 Aug.

Abstract
in English, French

Objective: To determine the prevalence and presenting complaints of HIV/AIDS patients attending a chiropractic outpatient teaching clinic in downtown Toronto, and explore their self-reported comorbidities, medications used, and consumption of other complementary health care.

Methods: A random sample was drawn from the entire clinic file collection spanning the years 2007 to 2013. Files were anonymized and coded to ensure confidentiality.

Results: A total of 264 files were radomly pulled from approxinately 3750 clinic files. The prevalence of HIV positive patients was 5.7% (15/264), predominantly males, with 3 patients having developed AIDS. Co-infection with Hepatitis B and/or C was identified in 5/15 patients. The most common presenting complaint was neck pain (80%), followed by low back pain (47%) compared to 20% and 43% respectively for the general cohort. Eleven of 15 patients were on antiretroviral treatment (ART); The frequency of comorbidities was 8/15 (53%) however, none were identified as being dominant. In addition to chiropractic, 7/15 patients reported receiving other complementary therapies.

Conclusions: A relatively small proportion of HIV/ AIDS patients were found to be receiving treatments in this downtown chiropractic clinic situated within a community health clinic setting. The principal presenting complaint was neck pain.

Objectif: Établir la prévalence des symptômes des patients séropositifs ou atteints du sida fréquentant un clinique chiropratique d’enseignement au centre-ville de Toronto et étudier les comorbidités autodéclarées, les médicaments utilisés et les soins de santé complémentaires.

Méthodologie: On a choisi au hasard des dossiers de patients parmi tous les dossiers de la clinique, à partir de 2007 jusqu’en 2013. Les dossiers ont été anonymisés et codés pour assurer la confidentialité.

Résultats: Au total, 264 dossiers ont été choisis par hasard parmi les quelque 3 750 de la clinique. La prévalence des patients séropositifs était de 5,7 % (15/264); la plupart étaient des hommes, 3 patients avaient développé le sida. Une co-infection par l’hépatite B et (ou) l’hépatite C avait été diagnostiquée chez 5 patients sur 15. Les symptômes les plus fréquents étaient la cervicalgie (80 %) suivie de la lombalgie (47 %); la fréquence de ces symptômes étaient de 20 % et de 43 % respectivement dans la cohorte générale. Onze des 15 patients suivaient un traitement antirétroviral (ARV). La fréquence des comorbidités était de 8 patients sur 15 (53 %), mais aucune n’était considérée comme dominante. Sept patients sur 15 ont déclaré suivre des traitements complémentaires en plus des traitements chiropratiques.

Conclusions: Une proportion relativement petite de patients séropositifs ou atteints du sida recevait des traitements dans cette clinique chiropratique du centre-ville située dans un établissement de soins de santé communautaire. La cervicalgie était le principal symptôme dont se plaignaient les patients.

Keywords: HIV; chiropractic; complementary therapies.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no disclaimers, competing interests, or sources of support or funding to report in the preparation of this manuscript.

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