title: Explaining differences in hepatitis C between U.S. veterans and nonveterans in treatment for substance abuse: results from a regression decomposition.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is common among people with substance abuse histories and a burden for U.S. veterans in particular. This study compares self-reported HCV between 1,652 veterans and 48,013 nonveterans who received public-sector substance abuse treatment in Los Angeles between 2006 and 2010. A higher percentage of veterans than nonveterans reported HCV (6.5% vs. 3.8%, p < .0001). Homelessness and mental illness explained, respectively, 8.6% and 7.1% of the difference in HCV between the two groups, adjusting for other variables. Reducing homelessness and mental illness among veterans may also help reduce the excess burden of HCV in this population.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Emergency Management Evaluation Center, North Hills, California 91343, USA. kevin.heslin@va.gov
authors.forename: Kevin C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Heslin
authors.forename: Erick G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Guerrero
authors.forename: Michael N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Melissa K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Afable
authors.forename: Aram
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dobalian
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015141:Los Angeles / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*