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. (27th March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Abara, Winston E; Trujillo, Lindsay; Broz, Dita; Finlayson, Teresa; Teshale, Eyasu; Paz-Bailey, Gabriela; Glick, Sara; Al-Tayyib, Alia A; Robinson, William T; Masiello-Schuette, Stephanie; Sey, Ekow K; Anderson, Bridget J; Poe, Jonathon; Braunstein, Sarah
• Is Part Of: Journal of infectious diseases. Volume 220:Number 3(2019)
• Page Start: 377
• Page End: 385
• Publication Date: 2019-03-27
• Subjects: direct-acting antiviral treatment -- HCV -- hepatitis C -- heroin -- medication-assisted treatment -- opioid use -- people who inject drugs -- young people who inject drugs; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Diseases -- Causes and theories of causation -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiz142
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1899

Abstract

Abstract: 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. Abstract : Approximately 42% of young and 62% of older people who inject drugs (PWID) were hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody positive. Infection is associated with risky injection practices. Increasing access to direct-acting antivirals, syringe service programs, and medication-assisted therapy is essential to reduce HCV infection, especially among young PWID.