title: [Predictive markers of HIV and HCV infection and co-infection among inmates in a Spanish prison].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the prevalence and factors associated with HIV and HCV infection among inmates of a Spanish prison.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was carried out in July 2001. We determined HCV (ELISA and RIBA-3) and HIV (ELISA and Western-blot) serology in the prison population. Study variables included age, sex, nationality and previous intravenous drug use (IDU). In IDU inmates we analyzed the age when intravenous drug use was initiated, years of consumption, age at first admission in prison and syringe sharing with other inmates. The subpopulations of Arab and Romani (gypsy) inmates were studied differentially.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 800 inmates (mean age 34.2 6 6.2 years) were evaluated; 74.3% were Spanish and 33.6% IDU. HCV serology was obtained in 730 inmates and HIV serology in 773 with the following seroprevalence results: HCV 38.2%, HIV 19.1% and HCV-HIV co-infection 18.8%. The variables associated with HCV or HIV infection in the univariate analysis were Spanish nationality, previous IDU and coinfection by the other virus. In the multivariate analysis, only coinfection and, particularly, previous IDU (HCV infection: adjusted ORp 104.8 [95% CI: 49.4-222.2]) (HIV infection adjusted ORp 45.1 [95% CI: 14.0-144.9]) maintained an association with the two infections.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of HIV and HCV infection and coinfection is high in Spanish prisons. Infection by either of these viruses and previous IDU were independently associated with both infections. The percentage of non-Spanish inmates with these infections is low.
authors.affiliation: Centro Penitenciario Alicante I, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Maestro Alonso 109, 03010 Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sáiz de la Hoya
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bedia
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Murcia
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cebriá
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Payá
authors.forename: Joaquín
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Portilla
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D000569:Americas / Q000208:ethnology; D018912:Arabs; D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D015415:Biomarkers; D015153:Blotting, Western; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005060:Europe / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000635:transmission; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016485:Needle Sharing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011329:Prisoners; D012307:Risk Factors; D006178:Romani People; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies