Perceived risk for severe outcomes and drinking status among drug users with HIV and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)

Abstract

Objective-Among drug users with HIV and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infections, heavy drinking can pose significant risks to health. Yet many drug users with HIV and HCV drink heavily. Clarifying the relationship of drug-using patients' understanding of their illnesses to their drinking behavior could facilitate more effective intervention with these high-risk groups.Method-Among samples of drug users infected with HIV (n=476; 70% male) and HCV (n=1145; 81% male) recruited from drug treatment clinics, we investigated whether patients' perceptions of the risk for severe outcomes related to HIV and HCV were associated with their personal drinking behavior, using generalized logit models. Interactions with co-infection status were also explored.Results-HIV-infected drug users who believed that HIV held highest risk for serious outcomes were the most likely to be risky drinkers, when compared with those with less severe perceptions, χ 2 (6)=14.19, p<0.05. In contrast, HCV-infected drug users who believed that HCV held moderate risk for serious outcomes were the most likely to be risky drinkers, χ 2 (6)=12.98, p<0.05.Conclusions-In this sample of drug users, risky drinking was most common among those with HIV who believed that severe outcomes were inevitable, suggesting that conveying the message that HIV always leads to severe outcomes may be counterproductive in decreasing risky drinking

The Impact of Direct‐Acting Antiviral Therapy on End‐Stage Liver Disease Among Individuals with Chronic Hepatitis C and Substance Use Disorders

“…(36) As such, strategies must be developed that combine DAA therapy with the management of alcohol use disorder, especially as some studies have suggested that patients with an alcohol use disorder and HCV are more likely to participate in risky drinking behaviors because to them severe liver-related outcomes appear to be inevitable. (37,38) Another factor associated with the development of DCC or HCC among those with HCV and an SUD was the presence of CKD in which one was over two times more likely to be diagnosed. This finding is most likely due to the known association of renal failure in patients with advanced liver disease and HCV.…”

“…( 36 ) As such, strategies must be developed that combine DAA therapy with the management of alcohol use disorder, especially as some studies have suggested that patients with an alcohol use disorder and HCV are more likely to participate in risky drinking behaviors because to them severe liver‐related outcomes appear to be inevitable. ( 37,38 )…”