[Current Hepatitis C Status among People Who Use Drugs in the Republic of Korea].

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

While the number of persons who use drugs (PWUD) in the Republic of Korea (ROK) is increasing, studies on hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among this population are scarce. We investigated HCV prevalence and treatment rates among PWUD.

Methods

Between August 2022 and May 2024, 342 PWUD from four hospitals were prospectively enrolled in this study. These four hospitals cover 95% of PWUD care in ROK. All participants underwent blood testing and completed questionnaires. Participants whose HCV antibody (anti-HCV) test result was positive underwent a reflex test for HCV RNA. Participants were divided into persons who inject drugs (PWID) and non-PWID groups based on their use of drugs by injection.

Results

PWID and non-PWID groups comprised 92.1% and 7.9% of to

SUBMITTER: Choi GH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12479960 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature