In 2017, Hurricane Maria caused devastation to the island of Puerto Rico and its residents but until now, the health impacts of this storm on vulnerable populations, including people living with HIV were unknown. The study, conducted in San Juan, also found that HIV care outcomes were related to the participants' pre-hurricane viral suppression status.

Through a computer-assisted personal interview, the researchers studied a cohort of people living with HIV and a history of substance use from the San Juan Metropolitan Area using a social and behavioral assessment. They also collected blood samples to measure CD4 and viral load at the study launch and at 6-month follow-up visits, including time points before and after the Hurricane.

Indicators such as homelessness, drug and alcohol use in the past 6 months, depression, physical abuse/interpersonal violence, access to care, and social support, among others, were also assessed.

Viral suppression decreased from 71 percent to 65 percent across the sample as a result of the impacts of Hurricane Maria, and access to care was reduced by over 22 percent. Study participants who were not virally suppressed pre-Hurricane Maria had significantly less access to care and lower medication adherence, but made a greater number of hospital/clinic/outpatient visits post-Hurricane Maria compared to pre-Hurricane Maria.

"The impact of Hurricane Maria on people living with HIV with a history of substance use in San Juan was mixed," observed Diana Hernandez, PhD, first author and Assistant Professor of Sociomedical Sciences at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. "But from our results it is clear to see the benefits of conducting further research that will help us understand divergent paths following natural disasters for vulnerable populations."

Co-authors include Lisa R. Metsch, Pedro C. Castellón, Sandra Miranda de León, Glenda O. Davila-Torres, Yue Pan, Allan E. Rodriguez, Iveth G. Yanez, Mariela Maisonet Alejandro, Wilmarie L. Calderón Alicea, Gabriel Cardenas, Héctor Meléndez, Lauren Gooden, Daniel J. Feaster and Jorge Santana-Bagur. Weill Cornell Medical College (led by Bruce Schackman, PhD) is also collaborating on this study.

The study was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA035280). The study principal investigators are Lisa R. Metsch, PhD (Columbia University), Jorge Santana-Bagur, MD (University of Puerto Rico) and Sandra Miranda de Leon, MPH (Puerto Rico Department of Health).

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Materials provided by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.