Iversen J, Grebely J, Topp L, Wand H, Dore G, Maher L
Viral Hepatitis Epidemiology and Prevention Program, The Kirby Institute University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
J Viral Hepat. 2014 Mar;21(3):198-207. doi: 10.1111/jvh.12129. Epub 2013 Jul 1.
The majority of new and existing cases of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection occur among people who inject drugs (PWID). Despite safe and efficacious HCV antiviral therapy, uptake remains low in this population. This study examined trends in HCV treatment uptake among a large national sample of PWID attending Australian Needle and Syringe Programs between 1999 and 2011. Annual cross-sectional sero-surveys conducted among PWID since 1995 involve completion of a self-administered questionnaire and provision of a dried blood spot for HCV antibody testing. Multivariate logistic regression identified variables independently associated with HCV treatment uptake among 9478 participants with both self-reported and serologically confirmed prior HCV infection. Between 1999 and 2011, the proportion currently receiving treatment increased from 1.1% to 2.1% (P < 0.001), while the proportion having ever received treatment increased from 3.4% to 8.6% (P < 0.001). Men were significantly more likely than women to have undertaken HCV treatment (P = 0.002). Among men, independent predictors of HCV treatment uptake were homosexual identity and older age; among women, independent predictors included homosexual identity and an incarceration history. Despite increases in HCV treatment among Australian PWID between 1999 and 2011, uptake remains low. Strategies are required to increase the proportion of PWID assessed and treated for HCV infection to address the increasing burden of disease. Specific approaches that target women may also be warranted. Continued surveillance of HCV treatment uptake among PWID will be important to monitor the roll-out of simple, safe and more effective HCV treatments expected to be available in the future.
丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)感染的大多数新发病例和现患病例发生在注射毒品者(PWID)中。尽管有安全有效的HCV抗病毒疗法,但该人群的治疗接受率仍然很低。本研究调查了1999年至2011年间参加澳大利亚针头和注射器项目的大量全国性PWID样本中HCV治疗接受率的趋势。自1995年以来在PWID中进行的年度横断面血清学调查包括完成一份自我管理的问卷,并提供一份用于HCV抗体检测的干血斑。多变量逻辑回归确定了9478名自我报告且血清学确诊既往有HCV感染的参与者中与HCV治疗接受率独立相关的变量。在1999年至2011年间,目前接受治疗的比例从1.1%增至2.1%(P<0.001),而曾经接受过治疗的比例从3.4%增至8.6%(P<0.001)。男性接受HCV治疗的可能性显著高于女性(P=0.002)。在男性中,HCV治疗接受率的独立预测因素是同性恋身份和年龄较大;在女性中,独立预测因素包括同性恋身份和监禁史。尽管1999年至2011年间澳大利亚PWID中的HCV治疗有所增加,但接受率仍然很低。需要采取策略来提高接受HCV感染评估和治疗的PWID比例,以应对日益增加的疾病负担。针对女性的特定方法可能也有必要。持续监测PWID中HCV治疗的接受率对于监测未来预计会推出的简单、安全且更有效的HCV治疗方法的推广情况很重要。