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Published on: May 29, 2020
Viral hepatitis among male amphetamine-inhaling abusers
1Department of Family Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Background:
Few studies have focused on the clandestinely consumed amphetamine as a primary drug. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and the related factors in male amphetamine-inhaling abusers.
Methods:
This was a cross-sectional study. From November 2004 to February 2005, 285 amphetamine-inhaling male subjects at one prison in Taiwan and 285 age-matched healthy men without history of using illicit drugs or tattooing were enrolled. A face-to-face interview focusing on amphetamine-addicted history and sociodemographic information was used. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HCV were tested.
Results:
The mean age of the subjects was 34.1 +/- 8.6 years (range 17-75 years). Among 285 subjects, 13.3% were positive for HBsAg, 20.0% positive for anti-HCV and 2.5% positive for combined HBsAg and anti-HCV. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that tattoo (odds ratio (OR) 2.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.37-6.43) and elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (OR 3.15, 95% CI 1.49-6.66) were independently related to persons being anti-HCV positive. Elevated ALT was related to persons being HBsAg positive (OR 2.60, 95% CI 1.15-5.89).
Conclusion:
Screening of HBV and HCV infection among amphetamine-inhaling abusers remains necessary. Tattoo and elevated ALT are identified as the related factors for being anti-HCV positive. Elevated ALT is the related factor for being HBsAg positive.
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