National case-control study of Kaposi's sarcoma and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in homosexual men: Part 1. Epidemiologic results

Ann Intern Med. 1983 Aug;99(2):145-51. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-99-2-145.

Abstract

To identify risk factors for the occurrence of Kaposi's sarcoma and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in homosexual men, we conducted a case-control study in New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Atlanta. Fifty patients (cases) (39 with Kaposi's sarcoma, 8 with pneumocystis pneumonia, and 3 with both) and 120 matched homosexual male controls (from sexually transmitted disease clinics and private medical practices) participated in the study. The variable most strongly associated with illness was a larger number of male sex partners per year (median, 61 for patients; 27 and 25 for clinic and private practice controls, respectively). Compared with controls, cases were also more likely to have been exposed to feces during sex, have had syphilis and non-B hepatitis, have been treated for enteric parasites, and have used various illicit substances. Certain aspects of a lifestyle shared by a subgroup of the male homosexual population are associated with an increased risk of Kaposi's sarcoma and pneumocystis pneumonia.

MeSH terms

  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / etiology*
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Homosexuality
  • Humans
  • Illicit Drugs
  • Immunity, Cellular
  • Life Style
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nitrates
  • Pentanols
  • Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / etiology*
  • Sarcoma, Kaposi / etiology*
  • Sexual Behavior
  • United States

Substances

  • Illicit Drugs
  • Nitrates
  • Pentanols
  • amyl nitrate