Viral Hepatitis
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2004. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jun 1, 2004; 10(11): 1589-1593
Published online Jun 1, 2004. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v10.i11.1589
Community-based survey of HCV and HIV coinfection in injection drug abusers in Sichuan Province of China
Yu-Hua Ruan, Kun-Xue Hong, Shi-Zhu Liu, Yi-Xin He, Feng Zhou, Guan-Ming Qin, Kang-Lin Chen, Hui Xing, Jian-Ping Chen, Yi-Ming Shao
Yu-Hua Ruan, Kun-Xue Hong, Shi-Zhu Liu, Yi-Xin He, Feng Zhou, Hui Xing, Jian-Ping Chen, Yi-Ming Shao, Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100050, China
Guan-Ming Qin, Sichuan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu 610031, Sichuan Province, China
Kang-Lin Chen, Xichang Center for STD and Leprosy Control, Xichang County 615000, Sichuan Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the National Key Technologies Research and Development Program of China during Tenth Five-Year Plan Period, No. 2001BA705B02 and National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 30170823
Correspondence to: Dr. Yi-Ming Shao, Division of Virology and Immunology, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 27 Nanwei Road, Xuanwu District, Beijing 100050, China. yshao@public3.bta.net.cn
Telephone: +86-10-63166184 Fax: +86-10-63154638
Received: October 10, 2003
Revised: December 4, 2003
Accepted: December 8, 2003
Published online: June 1, 2004
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of HCV/HIV coinfection in injection drug abusers (IDAs) in Lianshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan province, China.

METHODS: From November 8, 2002 to November 29, 2002, a community-based survey was conducted to investigate the demographic characteristics, patterns of shared injectors devices and sexual behaviors in IDAs. Blood samples were also collected to test HCV and HIV infection. A total of 379 subjects were recruited in the study through community outreach and peer recruiting methods.

RESULTS: Of the 379 IDAs, the HCV prevalence and HIV prevalence were 71.0% and 11.3%, respectively, and HCV/HIV coinfection was 11.3%. HCV infection was found in 100% and 67.3% of HIV-positive and HIV-negative IDAs, respectively. HIV prevalence was 16.0% in HCV positive IDAs while none of the HCV negative IDAs was positive for HIV. Ethnicity, shared needles or syringes and cotton in the past 3 mo and syphilis infection were associated with HCV/HIV coinfection shown by univariate analysis using chi-square test. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that shared needles or syringes in the past 3 mo (Odds ratio = 3.121, 95% CI: 1.278-7.617, P < 0.05) and syphilis infection (Odds ratio = 2.914, 95% CI: 1.327-6.398, P < 0.01) were significantly associated with HCV infection. No statistically significant association was found in univariate analysis between sexual behaviors and HCV/HIV coinfection.

CONCLUSION: Shared needles and syringes in the past 3 mo and syphilis infection were significantly associated with HCV infection. Further sero-epidemiological prospective cohort studies should be conducted to clarify the impact of syphilis and high risk sexual behaviors on HCV transmission through unprotected sexual intercourse.

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