Seroprevalence and Correlates of HIV and HCV among Injecting Drug Users in Edmonton, Alberta

Abstract

I njection drug users (IDUs) are at risk for acquiring blood-borne pathogens (BBP), such as human immunodefiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), through the use of contaminated drug equipment. HIV (and to a far lesser extent, HCV) may also be acquired through sexual transmission routes, which place IDUs at additional risk for infection. Illicit drug use is associated with highrisk sexual behaviours, such as the exchange of sex for drugs or money, 1-3 and a greater likelihood of exposure to social and sexual networks with high HIV (and HCV) prevalence. In 2006, the rate of positive HIV test reports among Canadian adults was 9.4/100,000 and IDUs represented 19.1% of all such reports. In the province of Alberta, the rate of new adult HIV case reports was 7.2/100,000 with 21.8% of all cases being identified as IDU. 4 Nationally, the rate of newly reported HCV cases in 2004 was 44.7/100,000. 5 In Alberta, the rate of newly reported HCV cases in 2006 was 41.7/100,000 of which approximately 68% were attributed to IDU (Alberta Health and Wellness, 2008). The objective of this research was to determine the seroprevalence and correlates of HIV and HCV and associated risk behaviours for a cohort of IDUs recruited in Edmonton, Alberta. METHODS Edmonton was selected as one of multiple sites for a national, crosssectional survey (I-Track Study) developed by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) to describe drug and sexual risk behaviours, and HIV/HCV prevalence among IDUs. 6 This study was approved by the

Needle exchange programs for the prevention of hepatitis C virus infection in people who inject drugs: a systematic review with meta-analysis

“…Results from these studies were mixed with one study finding no effect from NEP participation (OR, 1.54, 95% CI, 0.73–3.24) [50], one study finding a preventative effect (OR, 0.59, 95% CI, 0.43–0.77) [53], and three studies demonstrating a harmful effect (OR, 2.17, 95% CI, 1.38–3.40 [51]; OR, 2.1, 95% CI, 1.54–2.89 [52]; OR, 2.54, 95% CI, 1.36–4.74 [54]). Similar to the findings from the current review, not all studies adjusted odds ratios for confounding, and the various adjustments made were not uniform between studies.…”

Seroprevalance of Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus Infections in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Patients

“…Hindistan ve Kanada'da damar içi madde bağımlısı, HIV infeksiyonlu kişilerde anti-HCV pozitifl iği sırasıyla %86 ve %22.8 olarak tespit edilmiştir (28,29).…”

Shifting Sands: Changing Regional and Gender-specific Patterns of HIV/AIDS Mortality in Canada, 1987 to 2008

“…The changes in the Prairies suggest that new outbreaks in Alberta and Saskatchewan, mainly affecting First Nations, will likely have an impact on HIVrelated mortality in this region unless increased access to culturally relevant HIV health services are developed in collaboration with affected communities. 24 Our analysis has several limitations. First, HIV-related mortality rates are likely underestimated, as problems of misdiagnosis and under-reporting are common with HIV and AIDS, particularly with respect to the reporting of the underlying causes of death.…”