Epidemiology and treatment status of hepatitis C virus infection among people who have ever injected drugs in Korea: a prospective multicenter cohort study from 2007 to 2019 in comparison with non-PWID

Abstract

Introduction: Injection drug use is a major risk factor for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection; however, limited data are available in South Korea. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics, treatment uptake, and outcomes of HCV infection among people who inject drugs (PWID).Methods: We used the data from the Korea HCV cohort, which prospectively enrolled patients with HCV infection between 2007 and 2019. Clinical data and results of the questionnaire survey focused on the lifetime risk factors for HCV infection were analyzed based on the self-reported history of injection drug use.Results: Among the 2,468 patients, 166 (6.7%) had a history of injection drug use (PWID group). In the PWID group, the patients were younger (50.68.2 vs. 58.213.1 years) and the proportion of males was higher (81.9% vs. 48.8%) than in the non-PWID group. The distribution of PWID showed significant regional variations. Exposure to other risk factors for HCV infection was different between the groups. The proportion of patients with genotype non-2 infection was higher in the PWID group.Treatment uptake was higher in the PWID group in the interferon era; however, it was comparable between the groups in the direct-acting antiviral era. The rate of sustained virological response did not differ between the groups. Conclusion: By 2019, PWID were a minority among the HCV-infected people in Korea. The epidemiological characteristics were different between the groups, but not the treatment uptake and outcomes. Therefore, active screening and treatment should be offered to PWID in Korea.

Hepatitis C Virus Seroprevalence in Persons Who Inject Drugs in Korea, 2012–2022: A Multicenter, Retrospective Study

“…9 Moreover, recent studies have shown that the treatment uptake and sustained virologic response rate of DAA did not differ between PWID and non-PWID with chronic HCV infection. 19 20 Therefore, the treatment of HCV infection in PWID should be scaled-up urgently in South Korea.…”

Prevalence and factors associated with hepatitis C among pregnant women in China: a cross-sectional study

“…In 2016, WHO proposed the goal of eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030 8 -a 90% reduction in new infections and a 65% reduction in mortality. Whereas most studies on viral hepatitis infection primarily focused on HBV 9 or specially HCV exposed populations such as people who inject drugs (PWID) and men who have sex with men (MSM) [10][11][12] , studies among pregnant women were scarce. To achieve the goal of eliminating HCV as a public health threat, reducing the disease burden of society and decreasing new HCV infections, study on HCV pregnant women and HCV mother-to-children transmission is essential.…”