Risk factors and medical follow‐up of drug users tested for hepatitis C—can the risk of transmission be reduced?

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Abstract
Of 1728 patients attending a regional drug and alcohol clinic, 202 were considered at risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV). Forty‐nine per cent (99/202) agreed to testing—67% (67) were HCV antibody positive. Age and a history of needle sharing was the significant factor associated with positive HCV status. Patients on methadone maintenance medication were more‐likely to have been HCV positive, but significantly (p = 0.005) less likely to have shared needles in the previous year. Seventy‐three per cent (49/67) attended for follow‐up at a “liver clinic”. Fifty per cent were infected with genotype la. Eighteen patients were biopsied and all were abnormal, ranging from mild hepatitis to severe fibrotic hepatitis. Attendance for medical follow‐up was poor, which emphasizes the importance of preventative measures such as methadone maintenance programmes for reducing the spread of HCV.