[A cross-sectional study on the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of HIV-1 infection in gypsies and in other minorities in Bilbao, Northern Spain].

Background: The health status and needs of gypsies have been insufficiently studied.

Patients And Method: We studied the clinicoepidemiological characteristics of all HIV-1 infected patients attending in our outpatients clinic and hospitalized who were classified according to their ethnic origin as <>, <> (Caucasian non-gypsy Spanish natives) or <>.

Results: Overall, there were 563 patients out of 674 previously appointed (83%). Intravenous drug use (IVDU) was the HIV acquisition mechanism in 70%, 95% and 25% (p < 0.000) and attendance was considered regular in 89%, 48% and 89% payos, gypsies and immigrants (p < 0.01), respectively.

Conclusions: IVDU as the HIV transmission mechanism and lower clinic attendance rates were the most relevant differences observed between gypsy and payo subjects.