Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #104073

Michael L. Campsmith, DDS, MPH, Eyasu Teshale, MD, and Glenn V. Nakamura, PhD. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop E-47, Atlanta, GA 30333, 404-639-5174, mcampsmith@cdc.gov

Background: An estimated 950,000 persons in the U.S. are infected with HIV and 3.9 million infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). HIV/HCV co-infection can be high (e.g., in persons who ever injected drugs [IDU]) and can affect the progress and treatment of both diseases. We present self-reported prevalence of HCV and factors associated with HIV/HCV co-infection from the Supplement to HIV and AIDS Surveillance (SHAS) project. Methods: Data are from 19 sites that participated in SHAS (a behavioral interview study of HIV-infected adults age 18 and older) from May 2000 through December 2003. Chi square and logistic regression analyses identified factors associated with co-infection. Results: Of 8129 HIV-positive persons, 14% (1135) reported a health care provider ever told them they had HCV. Individual factors significantly associated (P<.001) with HCV included ever IDU (46% vs. 6% never IDU), ever in jail (22% vs. 7% never in jail) and >=10 lifetime sex partners (16% vs. 8% <10 partners). In regression analyses among ever IDU, HCV was associated with ever sharing needles (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.5-2.6), >=100 lifetime injections (AOR 1.9, CI 1.5-2.3), and ever in jail (AOR 1.4, CI 1.1-1.9). Conclusions: HCV co-infection was common in this HIV-infected population. Many HIV medication regimens are hepatotoxic; specific prevention messages should be targeted for those co-infected (i.e., hepatitis A vaccination, eliminating use of alcohol, risk of transmitting two viral diseases). Ascertaining HIV/HCV co-infection is an important consideration for individual treatment decisions, and for public health planning.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to

• Describe the epidemiology of HIV and HCV in the U.S.
• Identify factors associate with HIV/HCV co-infection from the study population.
• Recognize the important issues related to HIV/HCV co-infection for medical treatment and public health planning.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.