Impact of hepatitis C virus point-of-care RNA viral load testing compared with laboratory-based testing on uptake of RNA testing and treatment, and turnaround times: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Point-of-care (POC) hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA nucleic acid test viral load assays are being used increasingly as an alternative to centralised, laboratory-based standard-of-care (SOC) viral load assays to reduce loss to follow-up. We aimed to evaluate the impact of using POC compared with SOC approaches on uptake of HCV RNA viral load testing and treatment, and turnaround times from testing to treatment along the HCV care cascade.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science for studies published in English between Jan 1, 2016, and April 13, 2022.

Injecting frequency trajectories and hepatitis C virus acquisition: Findings from a cohort of people who inject drugs in Montréal, Canada.

Background: Frequent injecting increases hepatitis C (HCV) acquisition risk among people who inject drugs (PWID). However, few studies have examined how temporal fluctuations in injecting frequency may effect HCV infection risk. Thus, this study examined HCV incidence according to injecting frequency trajectories followed by PWID over one year in Montréal, Canada.

Diversity of incarceration patterns among people who inject drugs and the association with incident hepatitis C virus infection.

Background: Little is known about the relationship between short-term incarceration and risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among people who inject drugs (PWID). We investigated whether varying patterns of recent incarceration lasting less than two years are associated with HCV acquisition risk in this population.

Methods: We followed prospectively PWID at risk of acquiring HCV infection in Montréal (2004-2019).

Socioeconomic stability is associated with lower injection frequency among people with distinct trajectories of injection drug use.

Background: Little is known about how socioeconomic circumstances relate to injection frequencies among people who inject drugs (PWID) with diverse trajectories of injection. We aimed to characterize trajectories of injection drug use in a community-based sample of PWID over 7.5 years and to investigate the extent to which two modifiable factors reflecting socioeconomic stability-stable housing and stable income-relate to injection frequencies across distinct trajectories.

Homelessness, unstable housing, and risk of HIV and hepatitis C virus acquisition among people who inject drugs: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: People who inject drugs (PWID) are at increased risk for HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and also have high levels of homelessness and unstable housing. We assessed whether homelessness or unstable housing is associated with an increased risk of HIV or HCV acquisition among PWID compared with PWID who are not homeless or are stably housed.

Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we updated an existing database of HIV and HCV incidence studies published between Jan 1, 2000, and June 13, 2017.

Harm Reduction Coverage and Hepatitis C Incidence: Findings From a Cohort of People Who Inject Drugs.

Introduction: Needle and syringe programs and opioid agonist therapy are essential for harm reduction among people who inject drugs. Few studies assess their combined potential in preventing hepatitis C virus infection. No studies have assessed whether they perform similarly among individuals at risk of primary and recurrent infection.

Associations between housing stability and injecting frequency fluctuations: findings from a cohort of people who inject drugs in Montréal, Canada.

Background: The relationship between housing stability and drug injecting is complex, as both outcomes fluctuate over time. The objectives were to identify short-term trajectories of housing stability and injecting frequency among people who inject drugs (PWID) and examine how patterns of injecting frequency relate to those of housing stability.

Methods: At three-month intervals, PWID enrolled between 2011 and 2016 in the Hepatitis Cohort completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire and were tested for hepatitis C and HIV infections.

Sexual behaviour as a risk factor for hepatitis C virus infection among people who inject drugs in Montreal, Canada.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) acquisition remains high in key risk environments including injection drug use and sex between men. However, few studies examine the independent contribution of sexual behaviour to HCV acquisition among people who inject drugs (PWID). We estimated HCV incidence and examined sexual behaviour as a time-varying predictor of HCV acquisition in a prospective cohort study of PWID in Montreal (2004-2017).

Patterns of Drug and Alcohol Use and Injection Equipment Sharing Among People With Recent Injecting Drug Use or Receiving Opioid Agonist Treatment During and Following Hepatitis C Virus Treatment With Direct-acting Antiviral Therapies: An International Study.

Background: In many settings, recent or prior injection drug use remains a barrier to accessing direct-acting antiviral treatment (DAA) for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We examined patterns of drug and alcohol use and injection equipment sharing among people with recent injecting drug use or receiving opioid agonist treatment (OAT) during and following DAA-based treatment.

Methods: SIMPLIFY and D3FEAT are phase 4 trials evaluating the efficacy of DAA among people with past 6-month injecting drug use or receiving OAT through a network of 25 international sites.

Opioid agonist treatment dosage and patient-perceived dosage adequacy, and risk of hepatitis C infection among people who inject drugs.

Background: Opioid agonist treatment is considered important in preventing acquisition of hepatitis C virus (HCV) among people who inject drugs; however, the role of dosage in opioid agonist treatment is unclear. We investigated the joint association of prescribed dosage of opioid agonist treatment and patient-perceived dosage adequacy with risk of HCV infection among people who inject drugs.

Methods: We followed prospectively people who inject drugs at risk of acquiring HCV infection (who were RNA negative and HCV-antibody negative or positive) in Montréal, Canada (2004-2017).

Conceptualising access in the direct-acting antiviral era: An integrated framework to inform research and practice in HCV care for people who inject drugs.

As direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy costs fall and eligibility criteria are relaxed, people who inject drugs (PWID) will increasingly become eligible for HCV treatment. Yet eligibility does not necessarily equate to access. Amidst efforts to expand treatment uptake in this population, we seek to synthesise and clarify the conceptual underpinnings of access to health care for PWID, with a view to informing research and practice.

Short and sporadic injecting cessation episodes as predictors of incident hepatitis C virus infection: findings from a cohort study of people who inject drugs in Montréal, Canada.

Background And Aims: For most people who inject drugs (PWID), drug injecting follows a dynamic process characterized by transitions in and out of injecting. The objective of this investigation was to examine injecting cessation episodes of 1-3-month duration as predictors of hepatitis C virus (HCV) acquisition.

Design: Cohort study.

The role of prevention strategies in achieving HCV elimination in Canada: what are the remaining challenges?

Background: The worldwide economic, health, and social consequences of drug use disorders are devastating. Injection drug use is now a major factor contributing to hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission globally, and it is an important public health concern.

Methods: This article presents a narrative review of scientific evidence on public health strategies for HCV prevention among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Canada.

Neurostimulation for Refractory Cervicogenic Headache: A Three-Year Retrospective Study.

Background: Occipital nerve stimulation (ONS) has been used for the treatment of neuropathic pain conditions and could be a therapeutic approach for refractory cervicogenic headache (CeH).

Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of unilateral ONS in patients suffering from refractory CeH.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review on patients implanted from 2011 to 2013 at CHUM.

High hepatitis C incidence in relation to prescription opioid injection and poly-drug use: Assessing barriers to hepatitis C prevention.

Background: Prescription opioid (PO) injection and poly-drug use have been associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among people who inject drugs (PWID). Poly-drug use is often a barrier to key HCV preventive programmes including opioid agonist treatment. The contribution of specific drug combinations to high HCV incidence in poly-drug users has not been assessed previously.

Short-term injection drug use changes following hepatitis C virus (HCV) assessment and treatment among persons who inject drugs with acute HCV infection.

Background: It is unclear whether treatment and care for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can help people who inject drugs (PWID) modify their injection drug use behaviours. This study examined changes in injection drug use among PWID with acute HCV systematically referred for HCV clinical assessment and treatment and offered targeted health care services, over the course of one year.

Methods: The study sample included PWID with documented acute HCV infection recruited and followed-up semi-annually at least twice in IMPACT (2007-2015), a longitudinal community-based prospective study in Montréal, Canada.

Examining the link between psychological distress, mental health disorders and sharing behaviors among cocaine users.

Background: Psychiatric problems and cocaine use are associated with heightened vulnerability for HIV and Hepatitis C infections. Little is known regarding the relationship between psychiatric symptoms, psychiatric diagnoses and injection risk behaviors among cocaine users. We examined the association between psychological distress and injection material sharing among cocaine users, while accounting for comorbid anxious and mood disorders.

Hepatitis C Virus seroconversion among persons who inject drugs in relation to primary care physician visiting: The potential role of primary healthcare in a combined approach to Hepatitis C prevention.

Background: Meaningful reductions in Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) transmission rates among persons who inject drugs (PWID) require a comprehensive prevention approach, including access to harm reduction measures and to healthcare-related interventions, such as HCV screening, testing and antiviral treatment. Little is known, however, about the role of visiting a primary care physician (PCP) in relation to HCV infection risk among PWID, when integrated within a combined prevention approach. This study assessed the association between PCP visiting and HCV seroconversion among PWID attending needle exchange programs (NEP).

Portraying persons who inject drugs recently infected with hepatitis C accessing antiviral treatment: a cluster analysis.

Objectives. To empirically determine a categorization of people who inject drug (PWIDs) recently infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), in order to identify profiles most likely associated with early HCV treatment uptake. Methods.