Global estimates of prevalence of HCV infection among injecting drug users.
OBJECTIVE
In this paper, we review evidence of HCV prevalence among injecting drug users (IDUs) worldwide.


METHODS
We undertook a desk-based review of both 'grey' and published literature released between 1998 and 2005.


RESULTS
Data on HCV prevalence among IDUs was found in 57 countries and in 152 sub-national areas. We found reports of HCV prevalence of at least 50% among IDUs in 49 countries or territories. Available regional estimates varied widely, from 10 to 96% in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, from 10 to 100% in South and South-East Asia, from 34 to 93% in East-Asia and the Pacific, from 5 to 60% in North Africa and the Middle-East, from 2 to 100% in Latin America, from 8 to 90% in North America, from 25 to 88% in Australia and New Zealand, and from 2 to 93% in Western Europe. Only in Colombia and Lebanon were all HCV prevalence estimates below 20%. In addition, evidence of HIV/HCV co-infection among IDUs was found in 16 countries. In China, Poland, Puerto Rico, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand and Viet Nam, estimates of the prevalence of HIV/HCV co-infection among IDUs reached 90%.


CONCLUSIONS
Taken together, data suggest high global prevalence of HCV and HIV/HCV co-infection among IDUs. We suggest exploring protective factors in sites of low HCV prevalence.
Aceijas
Carmen
C
Centre for Research on Drugs and Health Behaviour, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London, London, UK. carmen.aceijas@lshtm.ac.uk <carmen.aceijas@lshtm.ac.uk>
Rhodes
Tim
T
D000349:Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D001208:Asia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D014943:Global Health; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D040261:Harm Reduction; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America / Q000453:epidemiology; D009313:National Health Programs; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D009656:North America / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology*