The prevalence and correlates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and HCV-HIV co-infection in a community sample of gay and bisexual men.
OBJECTIVE
To describe hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV prevalence and co-infection, and to examine variables associated with infection in a community sample of men who have sex with men (MSM).


METHODS
Data were from an anonymous, cross-sectional study (N=5080) in Canada. Men self-completed a questionnaire and provided an optional saliva specimen for HCV and HIV testing. Polytomous logistic regressions identified variables associated with HCV, HIV, and HCV-HIV co-infection.


RESULTS
The prevalences of HCV, HIV, and HCV-HIV co-infection were 1.9%, 9.0%, and 0.7%, respectively. The greatest contribution to HCV (odds ratio (OR) 23.66, 95% confidence interval (CI) 9.69-57.73) and HCV-HIV co-infection (OR 26.76, 95% CI 7.97-89.80) was injection drug use. Sexual behaviors and proxies were associated with HIV but not HCV infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest there are subgroups of MSM at risk for HCV. While sexual transmission of HCV was not ruled out, the predominant risk was needle sharing. The greater prevalence of HCV among HIV-positive men suggests the need for greater vigilance in the detection of HCV in this group.
Myers
Ted
T
HIV Social, Behavioral and Epidemiological Studies Unit, University of Toronto, Room 516, 155 College Street, Toronto, M5T 3M7 Canada. ted.myers@utoronto.ca
Allman
Dan
D
Xu
Kunyong
K
Remis
Robert S
RS
Aguinaldo
Jeffrey
J
Burchell
Ann
A
Calzavara
Liviana
L
Swantee
Carol
C
D000328:Adult; D001727:Bisexuality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016485:Needle Sharing; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires