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Hepatitis
C Prevalence in the Drug User Populations |
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"Hepatitis
C virus (HCV) infection is highly prevalent in illicit
drug user populations, with three in four new HCV infections related to this
risk behavior and a growing HCV disease burden in Canada," wrote the authors
of the current study. To explore the prevalence and predictors of HCV status
in this high-risk population, the researchers used data from a multi-site
cohort study of illicit opioid users in five Canadian cities (OPICAN).
Salivary antibody tests were used to assess HCV status of participants.
Univariate relationships of HCV status with select variables were examined
on the basis of cohort baseline data, and multivariate models using logistic
regression to determine independent predictors of HCV were generated.
HCV infection was present in 54.6 percent of the analysis sample (n=482).
The authors found significant differences in terms of HCV prevalence across
the sites. The final stepwise logistic regression model revealed significant
variables including age, site (Toronto), unprotected sex, injecting drug
use, drug treatment, and incarceration in the past year; these were in
addition to opioid use in combination with non-opioids.
"Besides drug injecting, various other socio-behavioral factors were
associated with HCV status in our cohort," the authors concluded. "On this
basis, interventions focusing solely on injection risks are overly limited
in scope to prevent HCV transmission in the high-risk population of illicit
drug users and need to be broadened. Prevention efforts should also target
young injectors as a priority."
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Canadian Journal of
Public Health Vol. 98; No. 2: P. 130-133 (03.04.07):: Cruz M. Firestone; B.
Fischer; J. Patra; K. Kalousek; B. Newton-Taylor, J. Rehm; M. Tyndall |
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does not constitute endorsement. The above summaries were prepared
without conducting any additional research or investigation into the
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validity or invalidity of any statements made in these summaries. This
CDC HIV/STD/TB Prevention News
Update also includes information from CDC and
other government agencies, such as background on MMWR articles, fact
sheets and announcements. |
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