Health-related quality of life in methadone maintenance patients with untreated hepatitis C virus infection

Objective

To assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) patients with untreated chronic HCV infection and to determine the clinical factors that predict HRQOL.

Method

HRQOL was measured in 100 MMT patients entering an HCV treatment trial. Subjects were mostly male (61%) and white (81%) with a mean age of 43 (±10). 57% had a current non-substance use psychiatric disorder. 55% had a current (past 12 months) substance use disorder, including 44% with current opioid or cocaine abuse/dependence. HRQOL in our sample was compared to published reports for the general population as well as for non-MMT HCV patients. To assess predictors of SF-36 HRQOL, hierarchical multiple regression techniques were used to assess model improvement with four blocks of baseline predictors: Demographics, Medical Severity, Addiction Severity, and Depression Severity.

Results

HRQOL scores were significantly lower than scores for the general population and were also lower than scores reported for untreated HCV patients not in MMT. Regression analysis demonstrated a consistent pattern whereby Depression Severity increased predictive accuracy for HRQOL measures over simpler models. Beck Depression Inventory scores significantly predicted quality of life across both the mental and physical composite scores and all eight sub-scales of the SF-36.

Conclusions

Untreated HCV patients in MMT had lower HRQOL than HCV patients not in MMT. Depression Severity was associated with significantly lower quality of life measures, suggesting that psychiatric evaluation and intervention prior to the start of HCV treatment may improve overall quality of life and could influence HCV treatment outcomes in MMT patients.     

Hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus risk behaviors in polydrug users on methadone maintenance

We examined the impact of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) on risk behaviors for transmission of blood-borne diseases in polydrug users who had tested positive or negative for hepatitis C virus (HCV). At intake, HCV-positive participants (n=362) engaged in more human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk behaviors (as measured by the HIV Risk-Taking Behavior Scale) than HCV-negative participants (n=297; p< .001). This difference was specific to injection-related behaviors and decreased significantly within the first few weeks of MMT (p< .0001). Where needles continued to be used, HCV-positive participants became more likely over time to engage in safer injecting practices. Furthermore, HCV-positive participants became more likely to use condoms than HCV-negative participants. These findings demonstrate that both drug- and sex-related risk behaviors decrease during MMT and emphasize the benefits of methadone programs for public health and HIV/HCV prevention.     

海洛因成瘾者美沙酮维持治疗剂量的调查分析

目的:探讨海洛因成瘾者美沙酮维持治疗剂量的影响因素.方法:选择进入美沙酮维持治疗三个月以上的宁波地区汉族海洛因依赖者162例,调查其临床资料和美沙酮维持剂量,分析影响美沙酮维持剂量的相关因素.结果:相关和回归分析表明海洛因成瘾者的学历,入组前最近毒品用量影响美沙酮维持治疗剂量(P＜0.05);对美沙酮维持治疗剂量高和低...     

Factors associated with mortality among heroin users after seeking treatment with methadone: A population-based cohort study in Taiwan

Data concerning factors associated with mortality among heroin users under methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) in the Han Chinese population are limited. This study examined mortality risk among heroin users after seeking treatment with methadone in a catchment area using a cohort of 1616 Taiwanese heroin users between October 2006 and December 2008. During the study period, 26 (1.6%) people died, with an all-cause mortality rate per 100 person years of 3.42. The primary cause of death among our patients was accidents, followed by suicide and drug overdose. Older age, HIV infection, psychiatric treatment history, and alcohol abuse/dependence were risk factors for all-cause mortality; remaining on MMT was protective for survival. Our findings suggest that although mortality is mainly associated with medical and psychiatric comorbidities, continuing with the MMT program is still an important predictor for survival.     

Safety, efficacy, and tolerability of nelfinavir-containing antiretroviral therapy for patients coinfected with HIV and hepatitis C undergoing methadone maintenance

The safety, efficacy, and tolerability of nelfinavir (NFV)-containing antiretroviral therapy were evaluated in patients coinfected with HIV and hepatitis C undergoing methadone maintenance at an urban outpatient opioid treatment program serving a minority adult population. Eligibility covered methadone-maintained patients coinfected with HIV and hepatitis C who had received or were currently receiving NFV. The yield was 51 case patients. Parameters examined looked into safety, efficacy, and tolerability. Nelfinavir was discontinued in 2 patients for liver function abnormalities but resumed in 1 patient. One patient developed laboratory abnormalities during NFV therapy that were not present before NFV therapy; in 12 case patients, pre-NFV therapy liver function abnormalities resolved completely during NFV therapy. There was a statistically significant increase in CD4 count during NFV therapy. Viral load decreased or was unchanged in 10 case patients and increased in 8, of whom 5 had a CD4 count increase during NFV therapy. Three patients had diarrhea and 4 patients had constipation. Nelfinavir was not discontinued—neither was dose adjusted—in any of these patients. Patients who had received NFV ≥36 months had a smaller increase in mean methadone dose as compared with patients who had received NFV <36 months. The results show that NFV is safe, efficacious, and well tolerated.     

深圳市宝安区美沙酮门诊海洛因依赖人群HIV、HCV和梅毒感染状况分析

目的：了解深圳市宝安区美沙酮门诊海洛因依赖人群HIV、HCV和梅毒感染状况,为相应的疾病控制干预提供科学依据。方法：对参加维持治疗的249名海洛因依赖者进行HIV、HCV和梅毒血清学检测。结果：HIV抗体阳性率1．2％（3／249）;HCV抗体阳性率62．2％（155／249）,其中静脉注射吸毒者HCV阳性率72．82％（142／195）明显高于非静脉吸毒者24．07％（13／54）（P〈0．001）;梅毒抗体阳性率2．0％（5／249）;3名HIV及5名梅毒阳性患者均合并感染HCV。结论：深圳市宝安区美沙酮门诊海洛因依赖人群中HCV感染率较高,尤其是静脉注射吸毒者。     

Optimal targeting of Hepatitis C virus treatment among injecting drug users to those not enrolled in methadone maintenance programs

Background

This work used mathematical modelling to explore effective policy for Hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment in Australia in the context of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT).

Method

We consider two models to depict HCV in the population of injecting drug users (IDU) within Australia. The first model considers the IDU population as a whole. The second model includes separate components for those that are or are not enrolled in MMT. The impact of different levels of HCV treatment and its allocation dependent on MMT status were then determined in terms of the steady state levels of each of these models.

Results

Although increasing levels of HCV treatment decrease chronic infection prevalence, initially numbers of acutely infected can rise. This is caused by the high rate of reinfection. We find that no matter the extent of HCV treatment, HCV prevalence cannot be eliminated without limiting risk behaviour. Assuming equal adherence to HCV therapy between MMT and non-MMT, over 84% of HCV treatment should be allocated to those not in MMT. Only if adherence to HCV therapy in non-MMT patients falls below 44% of that in MMT then treatment should be preferentially directed to those in MMT.

Conclusions

Contrary to generally held beliefs regarding HCV treatment the majority of therapy should be allocated to those that are still actively injecting. This is due to rates of reinfection and to the high turnover of individuals in MMT. Higher adherence to HCV therapy in MMT would need to be achieved before this changed.     

预防血液透析患者乙型肝炎与丙型肝炎病毒感染的效果观察

目的 采取有效措施预防维持性血液透析患者乙型肝炎、丙型肝炎病毒感染的发生.方法 观察2008年9月至2011年3月在本院行维持性血液透析患者,每6个月化验1次乙型肝炎五项、丙型肝炎抗体指标,共6次.结果 36例维持性血液透析患者未再出现新的乙型肝炎、丙型肝炎病毒感染病例.结论 采取有效措施可预防维持性血液透析患者乙型肝炎、丙型肝炎病毒感染的发生.     

海洛因依赖者药物维持治疗效果分析

目的：分析广州市药物（美沙酮）维持治疗（MMT）点工作的疗效,为进一步推广和完善MMT提供参考依据。方法：采用自我设计的社区美沙酮维持治疗调查表,对笔者所在门诊2006年09月～2008年-07月收治的125例海洛依赖者进行入组和随访凋查。结果：①受治者使用毒品的行为明显减少,2年来平均尿吗啡检测阴性率65％,未见共用针具行为;②家庭关系改善,家庭关系良好者从18例（14．4％）增至105例（84％）;正常生活水平从12例（9．6％）增至105例（90．4％）;精神变好从14例（11．2％）增至115例（90．2％）;③就业率从入组12例（9．6％）增至65例（52％）。结论：实施MMT在改善海洛因依赖者社会功能,降低毒品危害方面有一定成效,但还存在脱失率偏高,就业率不足等现象。怎样采取有效措施,降低脱失率,提高就业率,是今后急需解决的一个问题。     

美沙酮维持治疗门诊吸毒人群HCV感染调查分析

目的：调查美沙酮治疗门诊吸毒人群中HCV的感染率并为制定相应的预防措施提供科学依据。方法：宝鸡市美沙酮维持治疗（MMT）门诊61名受治者采静脉血检测抗-HCV抗体,调查在治者的HIV感染率。结果：受治者总抗-HCV阳性率为42．62％,HCV感染率女性高于男性,吸毒人群中HIV感染率高于一般人群。结论：MMT门诊吸毒人群HCV感染率高,相关危险行为普遍存在,应对吸毒人群加强教育,使其改变吸毒方式或参加美沙酮维持治疗,同时加强对相关人员的防护措施。     

Quality of life under maintenance treatment with heroin versus methadone in patients with opioid dependence

Background

There is increasing evidence that health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is associated with a successful treatment and better outcome in opioid addiction. The aim of the present study was the longitudinal investigation of HRQOL in patients with severe opioid dependence, who were randomly assigned to four groups of medical and psychosocial treatment: heroin (diacetylmorphine) versus methadone and case management (CM) versus psychoeducation (PSE) respectively.

Methods

HRQOL (MSQoL) and physical health (OTI) were investigated in 938 subjects, who participated in the German multi-centre study examining the effects of heroin-assisted treatment in patients with severe opioid dependence. Data for the present analysis were taken from baseline and 12-month follow up.

Results

Under both forms of maintenance and psychosocial treatment HRQOL improved significantly during the observation period. HRQOL improvement under maintenance with heroin exceeded improvement under methadone, especially with regard to subjective physical health. HRQOL improvement was significantly associated with better expert-rated physical health. Further analyses showed significant better improvement of HRQOL in subjects treated with PSE compared with CM.

Conclusions

The advantage of heroin with regard to the improvement of HRQOL may be partially explained by a better improvement of physical health under maintenance with heroin compared with methadone, which highlights the importance of a comprehensive model of health care for patients with severe opioid dependence. Future studies need to investigate the benefits of PSE for patients in maintenance therapy.     

Persisting local variations in prevalence of hepatitis C virus among Scottish problem drug users: Results from an anonymous screening study

Aims: To investigate local variations in the prevalence of hepatitis C virus among Scottish problem drug users.

Methods: Respondents from the 2001/2002 Drug Outcome Research in Scotland (DORIS) national cohort study were reinterviewed at eighteen months and provided oral fluid samples for anonymous screening for HCV (N = 788).

Findings: The prevalence of HCV among those samples available for testing was 37.5% (95% CI: 34.1-41.1). Substantial variations in prevalence were found between different NHS Board areas, with the Greater Glasgow prevalence rate being more than three-times that in the Lothian (Edinburgh district) area.

Conclusions: While annual summaries of HCV positive tests reported by the Scottish regional virus laboratories have previously shown regional prevalence differences, those data may be influenced by local testing policies. These data, from a national sample broadly representative of Scottish drug users seeking treatment, provide important confirmation of persistent local variation in prevalence. The need for a greater concentration of services resources in high prevalence areas is apparent.     

美沙酮维持治疗门诊受治人群HCV感染及影响因素分析

目的：了解西安市美沙酮维持治疗门诊受治人群丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）感染现状及其特点,为制订相应的干预措施提供科学依据。方法：对西安市美沙酮维持治疗门诊（MMT）2007年5月1日至2008年5月31日入组的404名海洛因依赖者进行问卷调查,并采静脉血检测抗-HCV抗体。结果：404名吸毒者中,抗-HCV阳性率为60．6％。静脉注射史中,曾静脉注射吸毒者280人,抗-HCV阳性率为75．4％,高于非静脉吸毒者的27．4％,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。有14人曾共用注射器具,占3．5％（14／404）。共用注射器具的感染率为78．6％。未共用注射器具者的HCV感染率为60．0％。多性伴者HCV感染率明显高于单一性伴或无性伴者．P〈0．01．有统计学意义。结论：西安市海溶因依籁人群HCV感染率高．相关危险行为普谝存在。     

Injection behaviors among injection drug users in treatment: the role of hepatitis C awareness

Background

Injection drug use (IDU) is a primary vector for blood-borne infections. Awareness of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection status may affect risky injection behaviors. This study determines the prevalence of risky injection practices and examines associations between awareness of positive HCV status and risky injection behaviors.

Methods

We surveyed individuals seeking treatment for substance use at 12 community treatment programs as part of a national HIV screening trial conducted within the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network. Participants reported socio-demographic characteristics, substance use, risk behaviors, and HCV status. We used multivariable logistic regression to test associations between participant characteristics and syringe/needle sharing.

Results

The 1281 participants included 244 (19.0%) individuals who reported injecting drugs in the past 6 months and 37.7% of IDUs reported being HCV positive. During the six months preceding baseline assessment, the majority of IDUs reported obtaining sterile syringes from pharmacies (51.6%) or syringe exchange programs (25.0%), but fewer than half of IDUs always used a sterile syringe (46.9%). More than one-third (38.5%) shared syringe/needles with another injector in the past 6 months. Awareness of positive HCV vs. negative/unknown status was associated with increased recent syringe/needle sharing (aOR 2.37, 95% CI 1.15, 4.88) in multivariable analysis.

Conclusions

Risky injection behaviors remain prevalent and awareness of HCV infection was associated with increased risky injection behaviors. New approaches are needed to broadly implement HCV prevention interventions for IDUs seeking addiction treatment.     

Assessment of methadone clinic staff attitudes toward hepatitis C evaluation and treatment

We used a 25-item, self-administered questionnaire to assess staff's perceived barriers and willingness to engage in onsite treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) at the Beth Israel Medical Center methadone maintenance treatment program (MMTP) at its Harlem sites. Of 80 participants, 50% were counselors and 24% were directly involved in referral or HCV testing. Although 92% of the MMTP staff indicated that they discuss HCV evaluation and treatment with patients at least annually, 70% believed that less than 25% of patients accept referral for HCV treatment and attend their initial appointment. Most staff (66%) supported onsite HCV evaluation and treatment, although support was higher among those with a bachelor's degree or higher (p = 0.046). Lack of infrastructure was perceived as the greatest obstacle to onsite treatment. Educational interventions and skill building for staff to confidently engage and support MMTP patients in HCV treatment may be necessary prerequisites for onsite HCV management in MMTPs.     

长期血液透析患者丙型肝炎病毒感染的研究

目的　调查长期血液透析患者丙型肝炎感染状况。方法　用酶联免疫吸附试验 ( EL ISA)法和RT- PCR法检测 13 7例长期血液透析患者血清中的抗丙型肝炎病毒 ( HCV)和丙型肝炎病毒核糖核酸( HCVRNA) ,并且同时检测丙氨酸转氨酶 ( AL T)和天冬氨酸转氨酶 ( AST) ,计算其变动率。结果　 13 7例长期血液透析患者中仅抗 HCV阳性 8例 ,仅 HCVRNA阳性 15例 ,抗 HCV与 HCVRNA同时阳性者 2 4例 ,感染率3 4 .3 %。且透析时间 <2 a的 HCV感染率为 15 % ,透析时间 >2 a以上的其感染率增至 3 7.6%。结论　血透患者中 HCV的感染应引起重视 ,透析的年限越长 ,被 HCV感染的机率就越大。酶学指征的变动率不能作为长期透析患者 HCV感染的敏感指标     

Concurrent group treatment for hepatitis C: Implementation and outcomes in a methadone maintenance treatment program

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is highly prevalent among current and former drug users. However, the minority of patients enrolled in drug treatment programs have initiated HCV treatment. New models are needed to overcome barriers to care. In this retrospective study, we describe the implementation and outcomes of 42 patients treated in a concurrent group treatment (CGT) program. Patients participated in weekly provider-led group treatment sessions which included review of side effects; discussion of adherence and side effect management; administration of interferon injections; brief physical examination; and ended with brief meditation. Of the first 27 patients who initiated CGT, 42% achieved a sustained viral response. In addition, 87% (13/15) of genotype-1 infected patients treated with direct acting antiviral agent achieved an undetectable viral load at 24 weeks. The CGT model may be effective in overcoming barriers to treatment and improving adherence and outcomes among patients enrolled in drug treatment programs.     

Treatment costs of hepatitis C infection among injection drug users in Canada, 2006-2026

Background

Canadian injection drug users (IDUs) are at high risk of hepatitis C virus infection (HCV). However, little is known about the costs associated with their HCV-related medical treatment. We estimated the medical costs of treating HCV-infected IDUs from 2006 to 2026.

Methods

We employed a Markov model of entry through birth or immigration to exposure-related behaviours or experiences, HCV infection, progression to HCV sequelae and mortality for active and ex-IDUs in Canada. We estimated direct and indirect treatment costs using data from the Ontario Case Costing Initiative (OCCI).

Result

Approximately 137,000 IDUs will suffer from HCV-related disease each year until 2026. Applying the OCCI cost data to the prevalence of HCV-related disease from 2006 to 2026 yielded an estimated cost of $3.96 billion CND to treat HCV-infected IDUs.

Conclusions

Substantial costs are associated with the treatment of HCV-related disease among Canadian IDUs. Given the lack of effective HCV prevention strategies in Canada, we must develop targeted evidence-based responses to prevent HCV transmission and ensure appropriate allocation of medical resources to meet the present and future treatment needs of HCV-infected IDUs.