Prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus and its association with hepatitis B,C, and D virus infections among incarcerated male substance abusers in Taiwan |
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| Authors: | Fang‐Yeh Chu Shu‐Chuan Chiang Fu‐Hsiung Su Yuan‐Ying Chang Shu‐Hsing Cheng |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Clinical Pathology, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Pan‐Chiao, Taipei, Taiwan;2. Department of Family Medicine, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Pan‐Chiao, Taipei, Taiwan;3. Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Biomedical Science and Technology, Yuanpei University, Hsinchu, Taiwan;4. Institute of Public Health & Division of Preventive Medicine, National Yang‐Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan;5. Ching Yun University, Jung‐Li, Taiwan;6. Sunrise Clinic, Taoyuan, Taiwan;7. Tzu‐Li Clinic, Taoyuan, Taiwan;8. Department of Infectious Diseases, Taoyuan General Hospital, Department of Health, Taoyuan, Taiwan;9. School of Public Health, College of Public Health and Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan |
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| Abstract: | Taiwan has been facing a rising epidemic of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection since 2004. Injection drug users comprised 38.5% of accumulated HIV cases by 2007. This cross‐sectional study investigated the seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis D virus (HDV), and HIV infection in 753 male substance users who were detained in a detoxification center in Taoyuan, Taiwan. The subjects were enrolled into the study consecutively between February and October, 2005. The seroprevalence rates of HIV antibodies, HCV antibodies, and HBV surface antigens among all subjects, and HDV antibodies among HBV carriers were 6.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.19–8.95), 30.5% (95% CI: 27.23–33.93), 16.9% (95% CI: 14.24–19.71) and 13.7% (95% CI: 8.19–21.04), respectively. Subjects in the heroin injection group had significantly higher rates of HIV infection, HCV infection and HDV superinfection (25.5%, 89.6%, and 38.7%) than those in the heroin non‐injection group (0.9%, 24.5%, and 6.25%), the methamphetamine group (0.3%, 8.1%, and 6.7%), and the club drug group (1%, 3%, and 0%; P < 0.001). The odds of HCV, HIV, or HDV infection were 74.7, 63.8, and 11.1 higher, respectively, for heroin injection drug users than for non‐injection drug users (P < 0.0001). Compared to HIV‐negative individuals, the odds of being a heroin injector and the odds of HCV co‐infections were 64‐fold and 149‐fold higher, respectively, in HIV‐positive individuals. The impact of HBV, HCV, and HDV infection on the HIV epidemic in Taiwan should be monitored closely. J. Med. Virol. 81:973–978, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. |
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| Keywords: | HIV hepatitis substance abuse heroin injections Taiwan |
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