title: Age cohort differences in illicit drug use and hepatitis C among African American substance users.
abstract: Identifying prognostic indicators for undiagnosed Hepatitis C is crucial to attenuate the negative impact of this disease. This study explored the influence of recent and more distal injection drug use on biologically confirmed Hepatitis C infection among a sample (N = 260) of older and younger African Americans. Data from the baseline assessment of the NEURO-HIV epidemiologic study was analyzed using confounder adjusted regression techniques. Older adults were more likely to test positive for Hepatitis C (OR = 2.80, 95% CI = 1.53-5.11) due to lifetime injection drug use (AOR = 5.37, 95% CI = 3.10-9.28). Clinical implications are discussed.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions , University of Florida , Gainesville , Florida , USA.
authors.forename: Nicole Ennis
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Whitehead
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hearn
authors.forename: Rebecca C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Trenz
authors.forename: Larry E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Burrell
authors.forename: William W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Latimer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Hepatitis C; medically underserved; older adult; substance use