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Hepatitis C among Vulnerable Populations: A Seroprevalence Study of Homeless, People Who Inject Drugs and Prisoners in London.

Aisyah, DN; Shallcross, L; Hayward, A; Aldridge, RW; Hemming, S; Yates, S; Ferenando, G; ... Story, A; + view all (2018) Hepatitis C among Vulnerable Populations: A Seroprevalence Study of Homeless, People Who Inject Drugs and Prisoners in London. J Viral Hepat , 25 (11) pp. 1260-1269. 10.1111/jvh.12936. Green open access

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Abstract

Injecting drugs substantially increases the risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and is common in the homeless and prisoners. Capturing accurate data on disease prevalence within these groups is challenging but is essential to inform strategies to reduce HCV transmission. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of HCV in these populations. We conducted a cross-sectional study between May 2011 and June 2013 in London and, using convenience sampling, recruited participants from hostels for the homeless, drug treatment services and a prison. A questionnaire was administered and blood samples were tested for hepatitis C. We recruited 491 individuals who were homeless (40.7%), 205 drug users (17%), and 511 prisoners (42.3%). Eight percent of patients (98/1207, 95% CI: 6.7%-9.8%) had active HCV infection and 3% (38/1207, 95% CI: 2.3%-4.3%) past HCV infection. Overall, one quarter (51/205) of people recruited in drug treatment services, 13% (65/491) of people from homeless residential sites and 4% (20/511) prisoners in this study were anti-HCV positive. 77 of the 136 (56.6%, 95% CI: 47.9%-65%) of HCV infected participants identified had a history of all three risk factors (homelessness, imprisonment and drug use), 27.3% (95% CI: 20.1%-35.6%) had 2 overlapping risk factors, and 15.4% (95% CI: 10.6%-23.7%) one risk factor. Drug treatment services, prisons and homelessness services provide good opportunities for identifying hepatitis C infected individuals. Effective models need to be developed to ensure case identification in these settings that can lead to effective treatment and efficient HCV prevention. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Type: Article
Title: Hepatitis C among Vulnerable Populations: A Seroprevalence Study of Homeless, People Who Inject Drugs and Prisoners in London.
Location: England
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1111/jvh.12936
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1111/jvh.12936
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: Drug users, hepatitis C, homeless, prisoner, vulnerable
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Infection and Immunity
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Medicine
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Medicine > Respiratory Medicine
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute of Epidemiology and Health
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute of Epidemiology and Health > Epidemiology and Public Health
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute of Health Informatics
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10050064
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