RISK FACTORS FOR AIDS AND HIV SEROPOSmVITY IN HOMOSEXUAL MEN

The authors compared cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) diagnosed in San Francisco, CaBfomia, during 1983-1984 with human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) antibody-negative neighborhood and cfinte controls, looking for risk factors for clinical AIDS. They also compared antibody-positive with antibody-negative neighborhood and dink; controls for risk factors for HIV infec-tion. Odds ratios were 52.0 for AIDS and 7.8 for seropositivity for more than 100 sexual partners versus 0-5 partners when antibody-negative neighborhood con-trols were compared with cases and with antibody-positive neighborhood con-trols, respectively. Odds ratios were only 2.9 and 3.4 when antibody-negative clinic controls were compared with cases and with antibody-positive clinic con-trols, respectively. Odds ratios of 4.6-7.3 for rectal receptivity with most or all partners versus none or one partner were statistically significant, independent of the number of partners. Douching before sex was independently associated with odds ratios of 2.2-2.8. There was no evidence for oral-genital, oral-anal, or other sexual transmission of AIDS. In muravariate analysis, independent odds ratios o