Incidence and risk factors of HCV and HIV infections in a cohort of intravenous drug users in the North and East of France.
In order to evaluate the incidence and risk factors of infection by hepatitis C virus (HCV) among injecting drug users (IDUs), we conducted a prospective cohort study of HCV- and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative IDUs in the North and East of France. A total of 231 HCV and HIV IDUs who had injected drugs at least once in their lifetime were followed up every 3 months over a 12-month period. Serum anti-HCV and anti-HIV were tested at inclusion in the study and at the end of the follow-up. Data on injecting practices were collected at inclusion and at each visit. Of the 231 participants included, 165 (71.4%) underwent a final HCV and HIV serum test. The incidence was nil for HIV infection and 9/100 person-years (95% CI 4.6-13.4) for HCV infection. In a multivariable analysis, we found that syringe and cotton sharing were the only independent predictive factors of HCV seroconversion.
Service de Pathologie Digestive, Centre Hospitalier Saint Philibert, rue du Grand But - BP, Lomme cedex, France.
D
D
Lucidarme
A
A
Bruandet
D
D
Ilef
J
J
Harbonnier
C
C
Jacob
A
A
Decoster
C
C
Delamare
C
C
Cyran
A F
AF
Van Hoenacker
D
D
Frémaux
P
P
Josse
J
J
Emmanuelli
Y
Y
Le Strat
J C
JC
Desenclos
B
B
Filoche
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013594:Syringes / Q000821:virology