Factors associated with HIV and HCV infection among individuals with a history of injection drug use in Baltimore

Background

The current study sought to explore the associations between HCV and HIV infection among a sample of individuals with a history of injection drug.

Materials and methods

This study is based on data from the International Neurobehavioral HIV Study, an epidemiological examination of neuropsychological, social, and behavioral risk factors of HIV, and Hepatitis A, B, and C. The current sample (N = 243) was limited to individuals that reported their drug of choice as cocaine/crack or heroin and reported daily or nearly daily use.

Results

Preliminary results suggest that being African American (OR = 11.3 CI: 2.1–60.1) and reporting cocaine/crack (OR = 16.5 CI: 4.5–60.2) as a drug of choice were associated HIV infection, but not years of regular drug use. HCV prevalence was associated with white race (OR = 2.4, CI: 1.15–4.83) and years of regular drug use (OR = 3.6, CI: 1.8–7.1), but not drug of choice. Estimated intellectual functioning was associated with both HIV and HCV infection (OR = 7.4, CI: 1.6–33.4; OR = 2.6, CI: 1.4–5.0).

Conclusion

Results highlight the importance of considering social factors in addressing HCV and HIV infection among injection drug users in addition to considering cognitive factors with respect to infectious disease among injection drug users.