Viral hepatitis among male amphetamine-inhaling abusers

Background: Few studies have focused on the clandestinely consumed amphetamine as a primary drug. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and the related factors in male amphetamine‐inhaling abusers. Methods: This was a cross‐sectional study. From November 2004 to February 2005, 285 amphetamine‐inhaling male subjects at one prison in Taiwan and 285 age‐matched healthy men without history of using illicit drugs or tattooing were enrolled. A face‐to‐face interview focusing on amphetamine‐addicted history and sociodemographic information was used. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti‐HCV were tested. Results: The mean age of the subjects was 34.1 ± 8.6 years (range 17–75 years). Among 285 subjects, 13.3% were positive for HBsAg, 20.0% positive for anti‐HCV and 2.5% positive for combined HBsAg and anti‐HCV. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that tattoo (odds ratio (OR) 2.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.37–6.43) and elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (OR 3.15, 95% CI 1.49–6.66) were independently related to persons being anti‐HCV positive. Elevated ALT was related to persons being HBsAg positive (OR 2.60, 95% CI 1.15–5.89). Conclusion: Screening of HBV and HCV infection among amphetamine‐inhaling abusers remains necessary. Tattoo and elevated ALT are identified as the related factors for being anti‐HCV positive. Elevated ALT is the related factor for being HBsAg positive.