Factors associated with successful referral for clinical care of drug users with chronic hepatitis C who have or are at risk for HIV infection

J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2004 Nov 1;37(3):1367-75. doi: 10.1097/01.qai.0000131932.21612.49.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine outcomes of referring drug users (DUs) with chronic hepatitis C for clinical evaluation and care. Two hundred twenty-eight persons with detectable hepatitis C virus RNA were given expedited referrals for evaluation and possible treatment of hepatitis C from a prospective study cohort of current and former opiate-addicted DUs. Four outcomes were analyzed: accepted referral, arrived for clinical evaluation, had liver biopsy, and received treatment. One hundred twenty-seven participants (56%) accepted referral, of whom 54 (43%) arrived for evaluation. Of these participants, 12 (22%) had liver biopsy, and 4 (7%) were treated. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that HIV-infected DUs were significantly less likely to accept referral (adjusted odds ratio [O(Radj)], 0.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.30-0.88), and older participants were more likely to keep an appointment (O(Radj), 1.06/y; 95% CI, 1.00-1.12). Of HIV-seropositive participants, those with a history of injection were more likely to accept referral (O(Radj), 3.60; 95% CI, 1.08-11.96), and those with higher HIV load (O(Radj), 0.50/log10; 95% CI, 0.26-0.94) and Hispanic ethnicity (O(Radj), 0.26; 95% CI, 0.07-0.89) were less likely to keep an appointment. Despite expedited referrals for hepatitis C care, only a few participants received an evaluation, and even far fewer were treated. Because increasingly effective treatment is available, better methods are urgently needed to improve evaluation and treatment of HCV-infected DUs, including those coinfected with HIV.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biopsy
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • Cocaine-Related Disorders
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology*
  • HIV Infections / immunology
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / complications*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / therapy
  • Humans
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver / virology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Odds Ratio
  • Referral and Consultation*
  • Regression Analysis
  • Risk Factors
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / complications*
  • Treatment Outcome