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Published on: March 13, 2015
[Risk factors for hepatitis C among injecting drug users in Oslo]
Olav Dalgard1, Atle Egeland, Randi Ervik
1odalgard@medisin.uio.no Medisinsk avdeling Rikshospitalet 0027 Oslo.
Summary
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is prevalent in Oslo
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Context:
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a significant concern among individuals who inject drugs.
- Needle exchange programs are crucial for harm reduction interventions.
Purpose:
- To determine the prevalence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among injecting drug users in Oslo.
- To identify risk behaviors associated with HCV infection in this population.
Summary:
- A cross-sectional study of 327 injecting drug users in Oslo found a high prevalence of HCV infection (51% HCV RNA+, 81% anti-HCV+).
- Key risk factors identified include early age at first injection, prolonged drug use, older age, syringe sharing, injecting during incarceration, back-loading, and heroin use.
- While syringe sharing was strongly associated with HCV, sharing other paraphernalia was not.
Impact:
- Findings highlight the substantial burden of HCV among injecting drug users in Oslo.
- The study underscores the importance of targeted interventions addressing specific risk behaviors, particularly syringe sharing and practices during incarceration.
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