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Factors associated with human herpesvirus type 8 infection in an injecting drug user cohort
Kyle T Bernstein1, Lisa P Jacobson, Frank J Jenkins
1Department of Epidemiology, The Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.
Background:
Human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8) has been infrequently studied in injecting drug user (IDU) populations.
Goal:
To estimate the seroprevalence of HHV-8 and risk factors for infection in a cohort of 2,946 IDUs.
Study Design:
In this nested cross-sectional study of 390 IDUs, lytic HHV-8 indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) was utilized to estimate the HHV-8 seroprevalence. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess risk factors for infection.
Results:
The HHV-8 seroprevalence among the IDUs examined in 1988 was 11.5% (95% confidence interval, 8.5-15.13). HHV-8 seroprevalence in this population was associated with being female (OR = 2.2; = 0.080), having a larger body mass index (OR = 3.0; = 0.053), and history of genital warts (OR = 4.0; = 0.023). Injection of any drug more than daily exhibited an inverse effect on HHV-8 seropositivity (OR = 0.5; = 0.085).
Conclusion:
The seroprevalence of HHV-8 in this population is similar to that seen in the general population, with risk factors being more consistent with sexual behaviors than injection drug use.
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