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Join the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics for their upcoming forum taking place on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm.
Forum Link: Microsoft Teams
Keynote Speaker: Heidi Jones
Title: Antiretroviral treatment and COVID-19 morbidity and mortality in unvaccinated adults living with HIV in New York City in 2020: Was tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) protective?
Abstract: Previous observational studies have found reduced COVID-19 morbidity and mortality risk for people living with HIV (PLWH) using the HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)/emtricitabine(FTC) compared to other ART regimens. In this presentation, Prof. Jones will share results from a replication study of previous observational studies using a constructed cohort of 12,225 virally suppressed PLWH in care at three clinical networks in New York in 2020 using electronic health records linked to health department surveillance data.
Speaker Bio: Heidi Jones is a professor in epidemiology at the CUNY School of Public Health. Over the last 25+ years, her research has centered on ways to improve reproductive and sexual health outcomes while maintaining individuals’ autonomy over reproductive and sexual health decisions. Her research expanded in 2020 to include understanding the impact of COVID-19 on society and health, and how to prevent and mitigate its harmful effects.
Student Speaker: Claudia Jimenez Castro
Title: Association of state LGBTQ+ equality and state mpox incidence during the 2022-2023 outbreak in the USA
Abstract: In 2022-2023, the United States experienced an mpox epidemic that primarily affected men who have sex with men. Previous research has found that state legislation supporting LGBTQ+ equality is associated with uptake of disease prevention biomedical technology, including mpox vaccination, which may influence mpox incidence.
Objectives: To analyze the association between state LGBTQ+ equality and mpox incidence during the outbreak, and to evaluate if this association changed over time as the vaccine became available.
Methods: We conducted an ecological study at the state level to analyze the association between the state’s LGBTQ+ equality category and the state’s monthly mpox incidence (per 100,000) during the 2022-2023 mpox outbreak in the US. We used linear regression with GEE due to multiple observations per state over time, adjusting for US region and time (three-month intervals). We assessed region and time as possible effect modifiers by adding interaction terms to the model. Significant interactions prompted a re-analysis stratified by the modifier.
Results: There was a non-significantly lower mpox incidence in states with higher LGBTQ+ equality (β = 0.70, p = 0.131). The interaction with time was borderline significant (p-value range 0.104-0.417). In the models stratified by time, higher LGBTQ+ equality was associated with a higher incidence during the first three months of the epidemic (June-August 2022: β = 2.44, p = 0.133), but subsequently with a lower incidence (September-November 2022: β = 0.33, p = 0.140; December 2022-February 2023: β = 0.01, p = 0.345; March-May 2023: β = 0.03, p = 0.049).
Conclusion: Higher LGBTQ+ equality was associated with lower mpox incidence, particularly toward the outbreak’s end, potentially reflecting differences in vaccine rollout and uptake.
Speaker Bio: Claudia Jimenez is a PhD Candidate in Epidemiology at CUNY SPH. Her current work focuses on the role of race, gender, socioeconomic status, and geographic location as factors that influence health outcomes, as well as how legislative factors impact mpox vaccination and incidence.