Abstract | BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To decrease infectious disease transmission, China is expanding methadone maintenance treatment ( MMT). This study evaluated the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection at MMT entry, seroconversion rates after admission and potential risk factors for HCV seroconversion during MMT in Wuhan, China. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey of all patients entering MMT and prospective follow-up of patients HCV seronegative at admission. SETTING: All MMT clinics in Wuhan, China. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 12 755 opiate-dependent individuals entering MMT between May 2006 and June 2011; 1200 participants HCV seronegative at admission were followed. MEASUREMENTS: Serological tests for HCV and self-report data on risk behaviors at MMT admission; urine toxicology results and repeated assessments of serological status and risk behaviors during treatment on patients HCV seronegative at admission. FINDINGS: HCV seroprevalence at admission was 72.1% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 71.3-72.9%] and 555/1200 (46.3%, 95% CI = 43.5-49.1%) patients seroconverted to HCV during MMT. The mean time to HCV seroconversion was 3 (95% CI = 2.84-3.07) years with a cumulative seroconversion rate of 34.5 (95% CI = 31.5-36.9) per 100 person-years. Significant predictors of HCV conversion included injection drug use in the past 30 days [relative hazard (RH) 2.0, 95% CI: 1.6 - 2.4, P=0.002] and the rate of opiate-positive urine tests during MMT (RH 2.0, 95% CI = 1.3-3.1, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS:
Methadone maintenance treatment patients in Wuhan, China show a high prevalence of hepatitis C virus at admission (72.1%) and a high rate of seroconversion during treatment (46.3%). Seroconversion is associated with continuing injection drug use.
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Authors | Wang Zhou, Xia Wang, Sheng Zhou, Nianhua Xie, Pulin Liu, Li Luo, Jinsong Peng, Manqing Liu, Alethea Desrosiers, Richard Schottenfeld, Marek C Chawarski |
Journal | Addiction (Abingdon, England)
(Addiction)
Vol. 110
Issue 5
Pg. 796-802
(May 2015)
ISSN: 1360-0443 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 25529103
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Copyright | © 2015 Society for the Study of Addiction. |
Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Adult
- China
(epidemiology)
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Female
- Hepatitis C
(blood, epidemiology)
- Humans
- Male
- Methadone
(therapeutic use)
- Opiate Substitution Treatment
- Opioid-Related Disorders
(blood, rehabilitation)
- Prevalence
- Prospective Studies
- Risk Factors
- Seroconversion
- Seroepidemiologic Studies
- Substance Abuse, Intravenous
(blood, rehabilitation)
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