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Age-Related Differences in Past or Present Hepatitis C Virus Infection Among People Who Inject Drugs: National Human Immunodeficiency Virus Behavioral Surveillance, 8 US Cities, 2015
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7 02 2019
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Source: J Infect Dis. 220(3):377-385
[PDF-395.54 KB]
Details:
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Alternative Title:J Infect Dis
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Personal Author:
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Description:Background.
Historically, older people who inject drugs (PWID) have had the highest hepatitis C virus (HCV) burden; however, young PWID now account for recent increases. We assessed factors associated with past or present HCV infection (HCV antibody [anti-HCV] positive) among young (≤35 years) and older (>35 years) PWID.
Methods.
We calculated adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to examine sociodemographic and past 12-month injection behaviors associated with HCV infection.
Results.
Of 4094 PWID, 55.2% were anti-HCV positive. Among young PWID, anti-HCV prevalence was 42.1% and associated with ≤high school diploma/General Education Development diploma (GED) (aPR, 1.17 [95% CI, 1.03–1.33]), receptive syringe sharing (aPR, 1.37 [95% CI, 1.21–1.56]), sharing injection equipment (aPR, 1.16 [95% CI, 1.01–1.35]), arrest history (aPR, 1.14 [95% CI, 1.02–1.29]), and injecting speedball (aPR, 1.37 [95% CI, 1.16–1.61]). Among older PWID, anti-HCV prevalence was 62.2% and associated with ≤high school diploma/GED (aPR, 1.08 [95% CI, 1.02–1.15]), sharing injection equipment (aPR, 1.08 [95% CI, 1.02–1.15]), high injection frequency (aPR, 1.16 [95% CI, 1.01–1.34]), and injecting speedball (aPR, 1.09 [95% CI, 1.01–1.16])
Conclusions.
Anti-HCV prevalence is high among PWID and varies with age. Scaling up direct-acting antiviral treatment, syringe service programs, and medication-assisted therapy is critical to mitigating transmission risk and infection burden.
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Pubmed ID:30915477
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Pubmed Central ID:PMC11111175
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Volume:220
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Issue:3
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