Viral hepatitis among male amphetamine-inhaling abusers.
BACKGROUND
Few studies have focused on the clandestinely consumed amphetamine as a primary drug. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and the related factors in male amphetamine-inhaling abusers.


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional study. From November 2004 to February 2005, 285 amphetamine-inhaling male subjects at one prison in Taiwan and 285 age-matched healthy men without history of using illicit drugs or tattooing were enrolled. A face-to-face interview focusing on amphetamine-addicted history and sociodemographic information was used. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HCV were tested.


RESULTS
The mean age of the subjects was 34.1 +/- 8.6 years (range 17-75 years). Among 285 subjects, 13.3% were positive for HBsAg, 20.0% positive for anti-HCV and 2.5% positive for combined HBsAg and anti-HCV. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that tattoo (odds ratio (OR) 2.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.37-6.43) and elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (OR 3.15, 95% CI 1.49-6.66) were independently related to persons being anti-HCV positive. Elevated ALT was related to persons being HBsAg positive (OR 2.60, 95% CI 1.15-5.89).


CONCLUSIONS
Screening of HBV and HCV infection among amphetamine-inhaling abusers remains necessary. Tattoo and elevated ALT are identified as the related factors for being anti-HCV positive. Elevated ALT is the related factor for being HBsAg positive.
Lai
S-W
SW
Department of Family Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Chang
W-L
WL
Peng
C-Y
CY
Liao
K-F
KF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011329:Prisoners; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D000410:Alanine Transaminase