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. 2025 Jul 17.
doi: 10.1007/s12072-025-10856-w. Online ahead of print.

Hepatitis C virus incidence trend and its risk factors among people who inject drugs in Hai Phong, Vietnam

Hong Thi Tran  1 , Huong Thi Duong  2 , Khue Minh Pham  2 , Binh Thanh Nguyen  2 , Roselyne Vallo  3 , Morgana D'Ottavi  3 , Giang Thi Hoang  2 , Vinh Hai Vu  4 , Oanh Thi Hai Khuat  5 , Thanh Tuyet Thi Nham  5 , Duc Quang Nguyen  2 , Catherine Quillet  3 , Delphine Rapoud  3 , Philippe Van de Perre  3 , Jonathan Feelemyer  6 , Laurent Michel  7 , Didier Laureillard  3   8 , Don Des Jarlais  6 , Jean-Pierre Moles  3 , Nicolas Nagot  3
Affiliations

Hepatitis C virus incidence trend and its risk factors among people who inject drugs in Hai Phong, Vietnam

Hong Thi Tran et al. Hepatol Int. .

Abstract

Background: HCV incidence among people who inject drugs (PWID) remains unacceptably high. Using the data from the DRIVE study, we aimed to describe HCV incidence trends and investigate its associated risk factors among PWID in Hai Phong, Vietnam.

Methods: Active PWID were recruited through 3 annual respondent-driven sampling (RDS) surveys; part of them were included in the study cohorts. HCV seroincidence was calculated for PWID participating in multiple surveys (recaptures) or in cohorts. A nested case-control design was used for risk factor analysis. Controls were matched to HCV seroconversion cases on age, sex, cohort participation and HCV seroconversion visit. Risk factors were measured over the period preceding the HCV seroconversion visits.

Results: There were 83 HCV seroconversions during 844 person-years in 540 included participants. The overall HCV incidence was 9.8/100 person-years (95% CI 7.9-12.2). HCV incidence decreased over follow-up time and was particularly high among PWID living with HIV (PLWH), i.e., 37.2/100 person-years (95% CI 26.4-52.3). HIV infection (OR = 10.0, 95% CI 6.8-16.2) and active heroin injection (OR: 3.2, 95% CI 2.3-4.8) were associated with a higher risk of HCV seroconversion for cohort participants. Among RDS recaptures, living with a sexual partner and currently using methadone had opposite effects on HCV incidence, OR = 2.9, 95% CI 2.2-4.3 and OR = 0.4, 95% CI 0.3-0.5, respectively.

Conclusion: HCV incidence among PWID in Hai Phong was still 5 times higher than the WHO target for elimination. Along with strengthened HCV prevention programs, affordable HCV treatment should be made available for PWID to reach the elimination goal.

Keywords: Active heroin injection; Determinants; HCV infection; HIV; PLWH; PWID.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Conflict of interest: Hong Thi Tran, Huong Thi Duong, Khue Minh Pham, Binh Thanh Nguyen, Roselyne Vallo, Morgana D’Ottavi, Giang Thi Hoang, Vinh Hai Vu, Oanh Thi Hai Khuat, Thanh Tuyet Thi Nham, Duc Quang Nguyen, Catherine Quillet, Delphine Rapoud, Philippe Van de Perre, Jonathan Feelemyer, Laurent Michel, Didier Laureillard, Don Des Jarlais, Jean-Pierre Moles and Nicolas Nagot declare no conflict of interest. Ethical approval: The DRIVE study was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of New York University and Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam. This secondary analysis of was approved by the Ethics Committee of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Informed consent: Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study.

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