Prevalence, Clinical Characteristics, and Treatment Status of Hepatitis C Virus Infection among People Who Use Drugs in South Korea: A Prospective Multicenter Study.

Abstract

Background/aims: Data on hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among people who use drugs (PWUD) in South Korea is limited. This study investigated the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and treatment rates of HCV infection among PWUD.

Methods: From August 2022 to May 2024, 342 PWUD were prospectively enrolled in four hospitals covering 95% of PWUD care in Korea. Blood tests and questionnaires were conducted. If the anti-HCV antibody test was positive, a reflex test for HCV RNA was performed. The clinical characteristics were compared according to anti-HCV or HCV RNA positivity.

Results: Among these patients (median age, 46 years; men, 76%; injection drug user, 92%; syringe sharing, 56%), the prevalence of anti-HCV and HCV RNA was 31.3% and 10.5%, respectively. Abnormal aspartate aminotransferase or alanine aminotransferase levels were found in 24.6% of patients, and fibrosis-4 >3.25 was detected in 4.4% of patients. Anti-HCV positivity was independently associated with age (odds ratio [OR], 1.074), duration of injection drug use (OR, 1.060), sharing of syringes (OR, 3.510), and very low monthly income (OR, 2.598). Among anti-HCV positive patients, the treatment rate was significantly higher in the HCV RNA negative group (71.8%) than in the RNA positive group (16.7%). The only independent factor related to treatment uptake was having Medical Aid, which reimbursed 100% of the antiviral treatment (OR, 10.912; 95% confidence interval, 2.024 to 58.848; p=0.005).

Conclusions: Among PWUD in South Korea, the anti-HCV and HCV RNA prevalence rates were 31.3% and 10.5%, respectively. Only half of the anti-HCV positive PWUD received antiviral treatment. Treatment uptake was related to direct-acting antiviral affordability, suggesting a need for public support.