Article Text

Download PDFPDF

O028 Low proportion of men who have sex with men (MSM) tested for hepatitis C despite high prevalence in 2 genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinics
Free
  1. Thomas Pasvol,
  2. Palwasha Khan,
  3. Arun Thiagarajan,
  4. Subathira Dakshina,
  5. Liat Sarner,
  6. Chloe Orkin
  1. Bart’s Health NHS Trust, London, UK

Abstract

Background/introduction Screening for HIV and hepatitis B (HBV) is recommended for MSM attending GUM clinics. Hepatitis C testing is recommended for all HIV positive MSM. However, the PROUD pilot study reported an HCV incidence of 3.1% in high-risk, HIV negative MSM.

Aim(s)/objectives To report on proportion tested and prevalence of blood-borne viruses (BBVs) amongst MSM attending GUM clinics

Methods We collected demographic data and numbers tested for BBVs in all MSM attending 2 GUM clinics between 01/07/14 and 30/06/15 from electronic records. We compared proportion tested and prevalence in high-risk vs low-risk MSM and in HIV+ vs HIV- MSM. High-risk was defined as ≥1 sexually transmitted Infection (STI) i.e. Gonorrhoea, chlamydia and syphilis.

Results 4,415 patients were included. 3,289 (88.0%) were tested for HIV, 2,162 (49.1%) for HBV, 794 (18.1%) for HCV. Positives: 48 (1.5%) HIV, 11 (0.5%) HBV and 18 (2.3%) HCV [9/16 (56.3%) viraemic]. 1,003 (22.7%) were diagnosed with an STI: Syphilis 159 (3.6%), Gonorrhoea 640 (14.5%), Chlamydia 398 (9.0%). BBV prevalence was higher in high-risk vs low-risk MSM: HIV 23 (3.4%) vs 25 (1.0%); HBV 4 (0.7%) vs 7 (0.4%); HCV 10 (3.5%) vs 8 (1.6%).More HIV+ MSM were tested for HCV; 198 (27.8%) vs 587 (16.9%) HIV- (crude OR 1.9 (95% CI 1.6–2.3). HCV prevalence in those tested was 12 (6.1%) in HIV+ and 6 (1.0%) in HIV–.

Discussion/conclusion MSM were less likely to be tested for HCV than for HIV. Amongst those tested, HCV prevalence was 5x the national prevalence (0.4%). Prevalence of viral hepatitis was highest in HIV+ and in high-risk MSM suggesting that testing efforts should be increased.

Statistics from Altmetric.com

Request Permissions

If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.