Alcohol misuse and illicit drug use are associated with HCV/HIV co-infection

Abstract

We studied hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence and risk factors for HCV infection in a sample of Brazilian HIV-positive patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 580 HIV-positive patients from a specialized HIV/AIDS diagnosis and treatment centre in southern Brazil. All patients were interviewed for socio-demographic and risk factors and tested for HCV antibodies and HCV-RNA detection. A multivariate analysis was performed to identify risk factors for HCV infection. A total of 138 (24%) patients had past or chronic hepatitis C. The following risk factors were associated with HCV infection for each gender: alcohol misuse and injecting drug use in women (P < 0·001) and low educational level, smoking drug use, and injecting drug use in men (P < 0·01). These results suggest that alcohol misuse, low educational level, smoking drug use, and injecting drug use are probable risk factors for HCV infection in HIV-positive patients. This information contributes to an understanding of the epidemiology of HIV/HCV co-infection in Brazil.

HIV-1 epidemiology and circulating subtypes in the countryside of South Brazil

“…Similar results were observed by Lana & Lima (35) , in which seven out of 22 pregnant patients (24.2%) did not undergo HAART treatment in a study conducted in the Eastern District in the City of Belo Horizonte The most probable HIV-1 transmission route (as reported by the patients) was sexual (85.9%). This fi nding is in agreement with other Brazilian studies that highlighted the importance of this HIV-1 transmission route in men and women (27) (38) (39) (40) . In contrast, homosexual behavior was reported at a low frequency.…”

Low prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus co-infection in a medium size city in southern Brazil

“…3 HIV/HCV co-infection frequency was lower than in the two cities of the metropolitan area of the state, Porto Alegre (31.2%) and Canoas (23.8%). 4,5 Interestingly the frequency of injecting drug users was also lower in the investigated population (2.7%) than those reported in other studies. 4,5 The low HIV/HCV co-infection prevalence is probably related to the low frequency of injecting drug users in the community.…”

“…4,5 Interestingly the frequency of injecting drug users was also lower in the investigated population (2.7%) than those reported in other studies. 4,5 The low HIV/HCV co-infection prevalence is probably related to the low frequency of injecting drug users in the community. This epidemiologic knowledge is essential for the development of specific prevention strategies in small and medium size cities from the Brazilian countryside.…”

Effect of opioid-substitution therapy and mental health counseling on HIV risk among hepatitis C-infected individuals

“…Risk factors for HCV coinfection among people living with HIV include injection-drug use (IDU),6 alcohol use,6,7 unsafe sex among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM),8,9 and social disparities 10. Potential preventive factors for HIV transmission, particularly among PWID, include opioid-substitution therapy (OST),11,12 mental health counseling, and other harm-reduction strategies 12,13.…”