A longitudinal study on the incidence and transmission patterns of HIV, HBV and HCV infection among drug users in Amsterdam

Abstract

In the present study data on the incidence of HBV and HCV were used to indicate the prevalence of and trends in risk behavior, assuming that drug users (DUs) who become infected with HBV or HCV are also at risk for infection with HIV. In addition, we determined to that extent the transmission patterns of HIV, HBV and HCV differed. DUs were selected from a cohort study in Amsterdam, had at least one follow-up visit between December 1985 and September 1989 and reported never to have had homosexual contacts. Among 305 DUs, of whom 70% injected recently, the prevalence of HIV, HBV and HCV were 31%, 68% and 65% respectively. These prevalences were strongly interrelated and the same risk factors were found. The cumulative incidence of either HIV or HBV or HCV was 30% among prevalent HIV-negatives. Despite a previously reported reduction in risk behavior, only the HIV incidence tended to decrease initially, and after 1986 the incidences of HIV, HBV and HCV remained disturbingly high and stable (mean: 4, 9 and 10 per 100 person-years, respectively). As at present HBV appears to be transmitted more heterosexually than HIV in our study group and the HIV-epidemic may follow the HBV-epidemic in its transmission patterns, preventive activities targeted at both injecting and sexual behavior should be expanded.

Factors associated with prevalent hepatitis C: differences among young adult injection drug users in lower and upper Manhattan, New York City

“…4,8,10,11 At the 2 sites in our study, the HCV infection prevalence was lower than was reported in these studies, and we found a longer time of injecting (>6 years) before reaching a peak prevalence of infection. Additionally, our reported prevalence was lower than the prevalence reported in young injection drug users in Baltimore.…”

“…4,[7][8][9] However, we did not find direct syringe sharing, which is an established risk factor for HCV infection among injection drug users, [8][9][10][11] to be associated with prevalent HCV infection. Nevertheless, several correlates of HCV infection in our sample may have served as markers for syringe sharing.…”

Prevalence of hepatitis C in drug users in Flanders: determinants and geographic differences

“…5% in Limburg. Other studies targeting populations of non-IDU have reported prevalence rates widely varying between 2 and 25 % [4,[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21].…”

Case-Reporting of Acute Hepatitis B and C Among Injection Drug Users

“…HCV incidence rates in IDUs vary between 10% and 30% per year and are generally 4 to 100 times higher than the incidence of HIV in the same population. [3][4][5][6] HBV incidence in IDUs is somewhat lower, at 5%-10% per year. [2][3][4][5][6] Information about the epidemiology of hepatitis B and C in IDUs is also obtained from data on acute hepatitis cases reported to public health disease surveillance systems.…”

“…[3][4][5][6] HBV incidence in IDUs is somewhat lower, at 5%-10% per year. [2][3][4][5][6] Information about the epidemiology of hepatitis B and C in IDUs is also obtained from data on acute hepatitis cases reported to public health disease surveillance systems. In the sentinel hepatitis surveillance studies sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 43% of acute hepatitis C in 1992-1995 and 13% of hepatitis B in 1990-1992 was associated with drug injection.…”