TY - JOUR
T1 - Incidence and risk factors for hepatitis C among injection drug users in Baltimore, Maryland
AU - Villano, Stephen A.
AU - Vlahov, David
AU - Nelson, Kenrad E.
AU - Lyles, Cynthia M.
AU - Cohn, Sylvia
AU - Thomas, David L.
PY - 1997/12
Y1 - 1997/12
N2 - Between 1988 and 1996, the incidence of and risk factors for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection were studied in a cohort of injection drug users in Baltimore, Maryland. By second-generation antibody testing of stored serum samples, 142 participants were found to be susceptible to HCV at the time they entered the study. After a median follow-up of 6.5 years, 43 participants (30.3%) developed antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV). The overall incidence was 6.4 cases per 100 person-years, but a substantial decline in the annual incidence rate was observed after the first 2 years (1988 to 1990, 13.4/100 person-years; 1991 to 1996, 2.3/100 person-years [P = 03001 for trend]). Participants who acknowledged active drug use, especially those who acknowledged frequent use and sharing of drug paraphernalia, were at increased risk of HCV infection. However, high-risk sexual practices were not associated with HCV seroconversion. Efforts to reduce HCV infection must be focused on curbing drug use and especially on the sharing of needles and drug paraphernalia.
AB - Between 1988 and 1996, the incidence of and risk factors for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection were studied in a cohort of injection drug users in Baltimore, Maryland. By second-generation antibody testing of stored serum samples, 142 participants were found to be susceptible to HCV at the time they entered the study. After a median follow-up of 6.5 years, 43 participants (30.3%) developed antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV). The overall incidence was 6.4 cases per 100 person-years, but a substantial decline in the annual incidence rate was observed after the first 2 years (1988 to 1990, 13.4/100 person-years; 1991 to 1996, 2.3/100 person-years [P = 03001 for trend]). Participants who acknowledged active drug use, especially those who acknowledged frequent use and sharing of drug paraphernalia, were at increased risk of HCV infection. However, high-risk sexual practices were not associated with HCV seroconversion. Efforts to reduce HCV infection must be focused on curbing drug use and especially on the sharing of needles and drug paraphernalia.
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U2 - 10.1128/jcm.35.12.3274-3277.1997
DO - 10.1128/jcm.35.12.3274-3277.1997
M3 - Article
C2 - 9399533
AN - SCOPUS:0030657897
VL - 35
SP - 3274
EP - 3277
JO - Journal of Clinical Microbiology
JF - Journal of Clinical Microbiology
SN - 0095-1137
IS - 12
ER -