[Prevalence of infection by HIV and hepatitis C virus in a cohort of patients on methadone treatment].
OBJECTIVE
Methadone maintenance treatment reduces drug-related-harm. The aims of the study were: a) to analyze the temporal tendencies of prevalence of infection by HIV and hepatitis C virus, and b) to evaluate if the adherence to methadone maintenance treatment protects against the infection by HIV and hepatitis C virus.


METHODS
Retrospective longitudinal study with All the 1,487 patients receiving treatment in the Province of Alicante between June 1990 and December 1997. The prevalence of infection by HIV and hepatitis C virus were computed. The variables associated to the infection by HIV and hepatitis C virus were recognized though a model of logistic regression.


RESULTS
The prevalence of infection by HIV decreased, and the prevalence of infection by hepatitis C virus increased along the studied period. The independent predictors with regard to the infection by HIV were the age of beginning in treatment (odds ratio [OR] = 0.95; 95% confident interval [95%CI], 0.93-0.97; p < 0.001), total time within treatment (OR = 0.99; 95%CI, 0.98-1.0; p = 0.01) and non-parenteral route of administration (OR = 0.25; 95%CI, 0.18-0.33; p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
To be admitted to methadone maintenance treatment for the first time after opiate dependence has been developed and to remain in treatment for long periods of time, all that decreases the risk of infection by HIV.
Esteban
Javier
J
División de Toxicología. Instituto de Bioingeniería. Universidad Miguel Hernández. Elche. Alicante. Spain.
Gimeno
Carmen
C
Aragonés
Amparo
A
Barril
José
J
Pellín
María de la Cruz
Mde L
D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D008691:Methadone