A 25-year follow-up study of drug addicts hospitalised for acute hepatitis: present and past morbidity.
The aim of the study was to investigate present and past morbidity in drug addicts, 25 years after hospitalisation for acute hepatitis B or hepatitis nonA-nonB. The hospital records for 214 consecutively admitted patients were analysed, and a follow-up study on 66 of the 144 patients still alive was performed. At follow-up, 1 of 54 (1.8%) hepatitis B patients was still HBsAg positive. Twelve patients originally diagnosed as hepatitis nonA-nonB were all among 54 found to be anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) positive, and the total anti-HCV prevalence was 81.8%. Twelve (22.2%) of the HCV cases were unknown before the follow-up examination. Four (6.1%) participants were anti-human immunodeficiency virus positive, only 1 was on antiretroviral therapy, and none had developed AIDS. Other chronic somatic diseases were a minor problem, whereas drug users reported skin infections as a frequent complication. Forty-three patients (65%) had abandoned addictive drugs since the hospital stay. Serious mental disorders were reported by 19 patients (28.8%), and 17 (25.8%) regarded themselves as present (9) and former (8) compulsive alcohol drinkers. A large proportion of the participants were granted disability pension (39%), a majority because of psychiatric disorders, drug and alcohol abuse.
Gjeruldsen
Susanne Rogne
SR
Department of Infectious Diseases, Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. s.m.r.gieruldsen@iwoks.uio.no
Myrvang
Bjørn
B
Opjordsmoen
Stein
S
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015438:Health Behavior; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012874:Skin Diseases, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012931:Social Environment; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome