Incidence and risk factors of HCV and HIV infections in a cohort of intravenous drug users in the North and East of France

Publié le 1 août 2004
Mis à jour le 6 septembre 2019

In order to evaluate the incidence and risk factors of infection by hepatitis C virus (HCV) among injecting drug users (IDUs), we conducted a prospective cohort study of HCV- and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative IDUs in the North and East of France. A total of 231 HCV and HIV IDUs who had injected drugs at least once in their lifetime were followed up every 3 months over a 12-month period. Serum anti-HCV and anti-HIV were tested at inclusion in the study and at the end of the follow-up. Data on injecting practices were collected at inclusion and at each visit. Of the 231 participants included, 165 (71.4%) underwent a final HCV and HIV serum test. The incidence was nil for HIV infection and 9/100 person-years (95% CI 4.6-13.4) for HCV infection. In a multivariable analysis, we found that syringe and cotton sharing were the only independent predictive factors of HCV seroconversion.

Auteur : Lucidarme D, Bruandet A, Ilef D, Harbonnier J, Jacob C, Decoster A, Delamare C, Cyran C, van Hoenacker AF, Fremaux D, Josse P, Emmanuelli J, Le Strat Y, Desenclos JC, Filoche B
Epidemiology and Infection, 2004, vol. 132, n°. 4, p. 699-708