Theme: Clinical Research Year: 2021
Background Controlling Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection in individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) is key to achieving the WHO eliminating goal but screening and treatment continues to be a challenge. The objective of the study was to analyze the incidence of HCV infection in a cohort of subjects with SUD who had previously been screened and the degree of adherence to addiction centers, especially during the COVID19 pandemic. Methods Prospective study conducted in an addiction center that included subjects with SUD, who previously (2018-2019) underwent HCV screening and were offered treatment. During the COVID19 pandemic, they were offered HCV screening again to assess the incidence of new infections and reinfections. Results In the first study, 401 individuals with SUD were recruited, 112 (30%) were anti-HCV positive and 42 (10%) RNA-HCV positive. SVR12 was achieved in 15 of them, the rest being lost to follow-up. Eighteen months later 242 patients (60.3%) were still attached to the center 176 (72%) agreed to be screened. 58 (33%) positive anti-HCV were detected (two previously negative) and HCV-RNA was detected in 6 (3.4%). Four were previously known and had not agreed to be treated and 2 (1.1%) were new infections. There was no reinfection. Adherence to the addiction center was higher in older subjects (47 ± 11 vs 44 ± 12, p
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