Diagnosis of hepatitis C virus infection in Scotland's injecting drug user population

TY - JOUR

T1 - Diagnosis of hepatitis C virus infection in Scotland's injecting drug user population

AU - McDonald, S. A.

AU - Hutchinson, S. J.

AU - Mills, P. R.

AU - Bird, S. M.

AU - Robertson, C.

AU - Dillon, J. F.

AU - Springbett, A.

AU - Goldberg, D. J.

N1 - Times Cited: 2

PY - 2010

Y1 - 2010

N2 - We estimated the extent of undiagnosed hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in injecting drug users (IDUs) in Scotland. We used record-linkage to determine HCV diagnosis status for 41062 current/former IDUs attending drug treatment and support services between 1 April 1995 and 31 March 2006; the extent of undiagnosed HCV infection was estimated by comparing the number HCV-diagnosed to the number HCV-infected (estimated from an unlinked anonymous testing survey of 2141 current/former IDUs). In all, 9145 IDUs (22%) were diagnosed HCV antibody-positive since first attendance at drug services (diagnosis rate of 33.6/1000 person-years, 95% CI 32.7-34.4). By 31 March 2006, of the 19 632 current/former IDUs who had attended drug services and were determined to be living with HCV, an estimated 58% (95% CI 45-62) had not been HCV-diagnosed. It Is essential that the deployment of resources for identifying at-risk IDUs with a view to offering antiviral therapy is guided by evidence.

AB - We estimated the extent of undiagnosed hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in injecting drug users (IDUs) in Scotland. We used record-linkage to determine HCV diagnosis status for 41062 current/former IDUs attending drug treatment and support services between 1 April 1995 and 31 March 2006; the extent of undiagnosed HCV infection was estimated by comparing the number HCV-diagnosed to the number HCV-infected (estimated from an unlinked anonymous testing survey of 2141 current/former IDUs). In all, 9145 IDUs (22%) were diagnosed HCV antibody-positive since first attendance at drug services (diagnosis rate of 33.6/1000 person-years, 95% CI 32.7-34.4). By 31 March 2006, of the 19 632 current/former IDUs who had attended drug services and were determined to be living with HCV, an estimated 58% (95% CI 45-62) had not been HCV-diagnosed. It Is essential that the deployment of resources for identifying at-risk IDUs with a view to offering antiviral therapy is guided by evidence.

KW - Epidemiology

KW - hepatitis C

KW - injecting drug users (IDUs)

KW - PREVALENCE

KW - GLASGOW

U2 - 10.1017/S0950268809990616

DO - 10.1017/S0950268809990616

M3 - Article

C2 - 19723361

SN - 0950-2688

VL - 138

SP - 393

EP - 402

JO - Epidemiology and Infection

JF - Epidemiology and Infection

IS - 3

ER -