TY - JOUR
T1 - HIV Prevention Trials Network 078
T2 - High Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Antibodies among Urban US Men Who Have Sex with Men, Independent of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Status
AU - Irvin, Risha
AU - Gamble, Theresa
AU - Malone, Jowanna
AU - Wang, Zhe
AU - Wilson, Ethan
AU - Hughes, James P.
AU - Farley, Jason
AU - Mayer, Kenneth H.
AU - Del Rio, Carlos
AU - Batey, D. Scott
AU - Cummings, Vanessa
AU - Remien, Robert H.
AU - Beyrer, Chris
AU - Thio, Chloe L.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved.
PY - 2021/10/1
Y1 - 2021/10/1
N2 - Background: Sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is uncommon, yet documented among men who have sex with men (MSM), primarily among those with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Methods: In the HIV Prevention Trials Network 078 study (HPTN 078), which assessed an integrated strategy to achieve HIV viral suppression, 1305 MSM were screened across 4 geographically diverse US cities. At screening, demographic/behavioral/psychosocial questionnaires were completed, along with HIV and HCV testing. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate associations with HCV antibody positivity. Results: Among the 1287 (99%) of the MSM with HCV antibody results, the median age was 41, 69% were black, 85% had a high school education or more, 35% were employed, 70% had HIV, and 21% had undergone substance use counseling. The median lifetime number of male sexual partners was 17 (interquartile range, 6-50), and 246 (19%) were HCV antibody positive. HCV antibody positivity was high in MSM with HIV (20%) and MSM without HIV (17%) (P =. 12) and was higher in those receiving substance use counseling (36%) than in those who had not (15%) (P ≤. 01). Substance use counseling (odds ratio, 2.51; 95% confidence interval, 1.80-3.51) and unstable housing (2.16; 1.40-3.33) were associated with HCV antibody positivity. Conclusions: Nearly 1 in 5 MSM screened for HPTN 078 have been infected with HCV. The prevalence is high regardless of HIV status and is high even in those who did not undergo substance use counseling. In HIV burden networks, high HCV infection prevalence may occur in MSM without HIV. As implementation of preexposure prophylaxis expands and condom use declines, routine HCV counseling and screening among MSM are important.
AB - Background: Sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is uncommon, yet documented among men who have sex with men (MSM), primarily among those with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Methods: In the HIV Prevention Trials Network 078 study (HPTN 078), which assessed an integrated strategy to achieve HIV viral suppression, 1305 MSM were screened across 4 geographically diverse US cities. At screening, demographic/behavioral/psychosocial questionnaires were completed, along with HIV and HCV testing. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate associations with HCV antibody positivity. Results: Among the 1287 (99%) of the MSM with HCV antibody results, the median age was 41, 69% were black, 85% had a high school education or more, 35% were employed, 70% had HIV, and 21% had undergone substance use counseling. The median lifetime number of male sexual partners was 17 (interquartile range, 6-50), and 246 (19%) were HCV antibody positive. HCV antibody positivity was high in MSM with HIV (20%) and MSM without HIV (17%) (P =. 12) and was higher in those receiving substance use counseling (36%) than in those who had not (15%) (P ≤. 01). Substance use counseling (odds ratio, 2.51; 95% confidence interval, 1.80-3.51) and unstable housing (2.16; 1.40-3.33) were associated with HCV antibody positivity. Conclusions: Nearly 1 in 5 MSM screened for HPTN 078 have been infected with HCV. The prevalence is high regardless of HIV status and is high even in those who did not undergo substance use counseling. In HIV burden networks, high HCV infection prevalence may occur in MSM without HIV. As implementation of preexposure prophylaxis expands and condom use declines, routine HCV counseling and screening among MSM are important.
KW - HIV
KW - hepatitis C
KW - men who have sex with men
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U2 - 10.1093/cid/ciaa1869
DO - 10.1093/cid/ciaa1869
M3 - Article
C2 - 33346798
AN - SCOPUS:85105707619
SN - 1058-4838
VL - 73
SP - E2205-E2210
JO - Clinical Infectious Diseases
JF - Clinical Infectious Diseases
IS - 7
ER -