Screening for Hepatitis c in People Who Inject Drugs in Armenia-Colombia

Status: Recruiting
Location: See location...
Intervention Type: Other
Study Type: Observational
SUMMARY

Hepatitis C virus infection is a major cause of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. The risk of developing cirrhosis for people with chronic infection with the virus ranges from 15% to 30% over 20 years. Despite undeniable advances in the treatment of hepatitis C infection and the WHO strategy to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030, this infection continues to be a major public health problem globally and many HCV-positive individuals are unaware of their HIV status. People who inject drugs (PWID) are at increased risk for HCV. Several studies have reported high HCV prevalence rates, especially among PWID. PWID are usually exposed to a higher risk of various infectious diseases, mainly due to their drug consumption behaviors and habits, in addition to the risks and harms associated with the respective routes of self-administration. Worldwide, there are around 11 million PWIDs and there are approximately 2.3 million coinfections between HIV and HCV worldwide, of which more than half (1.3 million) occur in PWID. The coexistence of these two health conditions leads to accelerate the progression of liver disease. The global prevalence of HCV in 2019 among PWID was 50.2%, which is equivalent to 5.6 million people who inject drugs and live with hepatitis C. PWID had been considered a difficult group to reach, manage, and treat because HCV treatment management in these individuals is challenging and they have a higher risk of reinfection and some past HCV treatment guidelines excluded PWIDs from consideration, citing concerns about adherence, increased susceptibility to side effects, and reinfection. However, there is now compelling evidence that HCV treatment is safe and effective among PWID. In Colombia, the prevalence of hepatitis C among PWID has been measured locally in some cities. In Bogotá, it went from 1.7% in 2002 to 6.7% in 2014. For 2021, the prevalence of hepatitis C was measured in Bogotá, Medellín, Santiago de Cali, the metropolitan area of Pereira, Dos Quebradas, Medellín, Cucuta, and Armenia. The results of prevalence of antibodies against hepatitis C were as follows: Cali with 80.2%, is the city with the highest reactivity, followed by Pereira and Dos Quebradas with 71.4%, Armenia with 69.6%, and Cucuta with 62.8%. We do not have recent data about the impact of intervention to reduce HVC transmission in those groups.

Eligibility
Participation Requirements
Sex: All
Minimum Age: 18
Maximum Age: 100
Healthy Volunteers: t
View:

• Be between 18 and 65 years old.

• Having used injected psychoactive substances in the last six months.

• Residing in the city or metropolitan area of study in the last six months.

• Present the invitation coupon.

• Person with Colombian nationality, Venezuelan migrant population.

Locations
Other Locations
Colombia
Colombian Association of Hepatology
RECRUITING
Armenia
Contact Information
Primary
Javier Hernández Blanco, MD
jhernandezblanco@gmail.com
+57 318 3483581
Backup
Diana Chávez Bejarano, Bac
dianachavezbejarano@outlook.com
+57 3124541333
Time Frame
Start Date: 2024-05-20
Estimated Completion Date: 2025-03-31
Participants
Target number of participants: 205
Treatments
People who inject drugs in Armenia-Colombia
Persons over 18 years who injected drugs (PWID), living in the city of Armenia-Colombia.
Sponsors
Leads: Asociación Colombiana de Hepatología

This content was sourced from clinicaltrials.gov