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Low levels of hepatitis C diagnosis and testing uptake among people who inject image and performance enhancing drugs in England and Wales, 2012-15.
- Source :
-
Drug and alcohol dependence [Drug Alcohol Depend] 2017 Oct 01; Vol. 179, pp. 83-86. Date of Electronic Publication: 2017 Jul 18. - Publication Year :
- 2017
-
Abstract
- Introduction: People injecting image and performance enhancing drugs (IPEDs) have traditionally not been perceived as being at high risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, recent studies indicate the HCV antibody (anti-HCV) prevalence in this group is 10-times that in the general population. HCV testing uptake and undiagnosed infections are examined using data from a voluntary unlinked-anonymous survey.<br />Method: People injecting IPEDs across England and Wales completed a short bio-behavioural survey (2012-15). Anti-HCV status and self-reports of HCV testing were used in the analysis.<br />Results: The participants median age was 31 years, 98% were men, 14% had also injected psychoactive drugs and the anti-HCV prevalence was 4.8% (N=564). Among those who had never injected psychoactive drugs the anti-HCV prevalence was 1.4%; among those who had recently injected psychoactive drugs (preceding 12 months) prevalence was 39% and among those who had done this previously 14% (p<0.001). Overall, 37% had been tested for HCV: among those who had recently injected psychoactive drugs 78% had been tested, as had 56% of those who had injected psychoactive drugs previously; 33% of those never injecting psychoactive drugs were tested (p<0.001). Overall, 44% of those with anti-HCV were aware of this; however, only 14% of those who had never injected psychoactive drugs were aware.<br />Conclusions: One-in-twenty people who inject IPEDs have anti-HCV. HCV infections among those who had never injected psychoactive drugs were mostly undiagnosed, though this group had a lower prevalence. Targeted HCV testing interventions are also needed for those injecting IPEDs.<br /> (Crown Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
- Subjects :
- England epidemiology
Hepatitis C Antibodies immunology
Humans
Performance-Enhancing Substances chemistry
Prevalence
Surveys and Questionnaires
Wales epidemiology
Hepacivirus
Hepatitis C Antibodies blood
Performance-Enhancing Substances pharmacology
Substance Abuse, Intravenous epidemiology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1879-0046
- Volume :
- 179
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Drug and alcohol dependence
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 28759821
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.06.018