Hepatitis C and substance use in a sample of homeless people in New York City.
This study examined the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies and its association with substance use and sexual behavior among a sample of 139 persons visiting a mobile medical clinic in Manhattan. Ninety percent were unstably housed or were living on the street. The prevalence of HCV antibodies was 32%. Prevalence was also high for hepatitis B core antibodies (47%), HIV antibodies (15%), and syphilis exposure (14%); 76% tested positive for cocaine. Among subjects who reported ever injecting (20%), 86% were HCV positive; 19% of non-injectors were HCV positive. In separate multivariate logistic regression models (with injection controlled), HCV was predicted by quantitative hair assays for cocaine and self-reported duration of crack-cocaine use. Alcohol dependence and sexual behavior did not predict HCV. Hepatitis C is a significant public health problem among the urban homeless population, with injection drug use and, to a lesser extent, cocaine use implicated as risk factors.
Rosenblum
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A
Institute for Treatment and Services Research, National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., New York, NY 10010, USA. andrew.rosenblum@ndri.org
Nuttbrock
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L
McQuistion
H L
HL
Magura
S
S
Joseph
H
H
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies