title: Incidence and prevalence of hepatitis c virus infection among persons who inject drugs in New York City: 2006-2013.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis C virus infection is a source of significant preventable morbidity and mortality among persons who inject drugs (PWID). We sought to assess trends in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among PWID from 2006 to 2013 in New York City (NYC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Annual cross-sectional surveys of PWID entering a large drug abuse treatment program were performed. Risk behavior questionnaires were administered, and HIV and HCV testing were conducted. Comparisons were made with prior prevalence and incidence estimates in 1990-1991 and 2000-2001 reflecting different periods of combined prevention and treatment efforts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HCV prevalence among PWID (N: 1535) was 67% (95% CI: 66-70%) during the study period, and was not significantly different from that observed in 2000-2001. The estimated HCV incidence among new injectors (persons injecting for ≤6 years) during 2006-2013 was 19.5/100 PYO (95% CI: 17-23) and did not differ from that observed in 2000-2001 (18/100 PYO, 95% CI: 14-23/100).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the expansion of combined prevention programming between 2000-2001 and 2006-2013, HCV prevalence remained high. Estimated HCV incidence among new injectors also remained high, and not significantly lower than in 2000-2001, indicating that expanded combined prevention efforts are needed to control the HCV epidemic among PWID in NYC.
authors.affiliation: The Graduate Center at the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA; Center for Drug Use and HIV Research, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: ae.jordan@nyu.edu.
authors.forename: Ashly E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.affiliation: Center for Drug Use and HIV Research, New York, NY, USA; Mount Sinai Beth Israel, Baron Edmond de Rothschild Chemical Dependency Institute, 120 Water St, Floor 24, New York, NY 10038, USA.
authors.forename: Don C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Des Jarlais
authors.affiliation: Center for Drug Use and HIV Research, New York, NY, USA; Mount Sinai Beth Israel, Baron Edmond de Rothschild Chemical Dependency Institute, 120 Water St, Floor 24, New York, NY 10038, USA.
authors.forename: Kamyar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Arasteh
authors.affiliation: Center for Drug Use and HIV Research, New York, NY, USA; Mount Sinai Beth Israel, Baron Edmond de Rothschild Chemical Dependency Institute, 120 Water St, Floor 24, New York, NY 10038, USA.
authors.forename: Courtney
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McKnight
authors.affiliation: City University of New York, Hunter College, 2180 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10035, USA.
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nash
authors.affiliation: Center for Drug Use and HIV Research, New York, NY, USA; Mount Sinai Beth Israel, 120 East 16th Street, New York, NY 10003, USA.
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Perlman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012309:Risk-Taking; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Hepatitis C virus infection; Medication assisted treatment; Methadone maintenance treatment; Needle/syringe exchange program; People who inject drugs