title: Chronic hepatitis C and individuals with a history of injecting drugs in Spain: population assessment, challenges for successful treatment.
abstract: In Spain, there is a need to improve chronic hepatitis C care among people who inject drugs (PWID). Injecting drug use is an important risk behaviour for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Review of 28 sources of the relevant published literature mapped the size of the addiction-HCV population in Spain. Experts in opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment in Spain completed a consensus to define the population size, HCV prevalence and access or barriers to hepatitis C treatment for PWID populations. In Spain, over 300 000 individuals have a lifetime history of injecting drugs. Currently, 150 000 individuals in Spain have OUD; many have injected drugs. Each year, 80 000 individuals engage with treatment services for OUD. A proportion of this group continues to inject drugs. There is a high HCV prevalence in PWID - estimates of 60-80% in Spain. Uptake of hepatitis C therapy in PWID in Spain is limited; barriers include awareness of treatment pathways, advocacy for regular screening and effective joint care. There is an urgent need to address barriers to effective hepatitis C care for PWID in Spain. Practical and specific strategies including peer-led solutions, patient buddy systems and joint working models at the local level can make important short-term differences.
authors.affiliation: aAddiction and Dual Diagnosis Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital - Public Health Agency, ASPB, CIBERSAM bDepartment of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine, Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona cInstitut de Neuropsiquiatria i Addiccions, Hospital del Mar dIMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institut), Barcelona eSociedad Española de Patología Dual fInstituto de Adicciones, Madrid gTeaching Unit of Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, University Hospital Doctor Peset and University of Valencia hUniversity Cardenal Herrera CEU, Valencia, Spain iapplied strategic, London, UK.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roncero
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Littlewood
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vega
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martinez-Raga
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torrens
mesh_terms: D055030:Drug Users / Q000523:psychology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology