Hepatitis C Prevalence, HCV awareness and Certain Psychological Factors in Patients with Opioid Use Disorder

The objective of this study is to determine the prevalance of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) in patients with Opioid Use Disorder and to investigate both the sociodemographic and psychological differences between patients with or without Hepatitis C Virus.

Blood samples were taken from patients diagnosed with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) who applied to Mersin Provincial Health Directorate Toros State Hospital Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment Center (AMATEM) between 01.09.2019-01.09.2020 and hepatitis virus markers, complete blood count and basic biochemistry were assessed. Sociodemographic Evaluation Form, Barratt Impulsivity Scale, Childhood Traumas Scale, Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT), Temps-A Temperament Scale, Difficulty in Emotion Regulation Scale were applied to 107 patients with HCV and 101 patients without HCV who were selected by systematic sampling and the findings obtained were compared.

Of the 1190 patients diagnosed with Opioid Use Disorder, 340 (28.5%) were found to be HCV positive. 107 HCV-positive and 101 HCV- negative patients who were selected for comparison were similar in terms of sociodemographic characteristics. Among HCV positive patients, the rate of intravenous drug use and needle sharing were significantly higher (p<0.001, p<0.001). Overall duration of substance use and intravenous substance use were significantly higher in HCV positive patients (p=0.024 and p=0.017). Similarly, HCV positive group were significantly more likely (p<0.001) to have heard of HCV before and significantly more likely (p=0.009) to know that HCV causes cirrhosis and liver cancer. Regarding the scores of Barratt Impulsivity Scale, Childhood Traumas Scale, Substance Use Disorder Recognition Test, DUDIT, Temps -A Temperament Scales applied to HCV positive and HCV negative patients with Opioid Use Disorder, no difference was found. The scores of the 'Non-Acceptance' factor of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale were found to be significantly higher in HCV positive patients with Opioid Use Disorder (p=0.020).

Patients diagnosed with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) have higher rates of HCV positivity compared to general public. Intravenous drug use significantly increases this risk. Half of HCV-positive patients were unaware that they have the virus and only a very small proportion received treatment. Therefore, examining each patient with OUD for HCV, treating positive patients in an effective referral system seems to be the an important step in the eradication of this disease in this population.