Stable Low Hepatitis C Virus Antibody Prevalence Among HIV-Negative Men Who Have Sex With Men Attending the Sexually Transmitted Infection Outpatient Clinic in Amsterdam, 2007 to 2017

Sex Transm Dis. 2018 Dec;45(12):813-817. doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000877.

Abstract

Background: In response to the increased hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence recently found among participants of the Amsterdam preexposure prophylaxis demonstration project, we evaluated HCV prevalence over time and the performance of the HCV-MOSAIC risk score for detection of HCV infection in HIV-negative men who have sex with men (MSM) attending the Amsterdam sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinic.

Methods: In October 2016, HIV-negative MSM were tested for anti-HCV and HCV RNA and completed the HCV-MOSAIC risk score. Anti-HCV prevalence was compared with that found in cross-sectional studies at the Amsterdam STI clinic (2007-2017). The time trend in HCV prevalence was modeled via logistic regression. The performance of the HCV-MOSAIC risk score, adjusted to identify prevalent HCV infection, was evaluated by calculating sensitivity and specificity.

Results: Of 504 HIV-negative MSM tested in October 2016, 5 were anti-HCV positive (1.0%, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.4%-2.3%) and all were HCV RNA negative. Sensitivity and specificity of the adjusted HCV-MOSAIC risk score for prevalent infection were 80.0% (95% CI, 37.6%-96.4%) and 56.1% (95% CI, 51.7%-60.4%), respectively. The overall anti-HCV prevalence among 3264 HIV-negative MSM participating in cross-sectional studies at the Amsterdam STI clinic (2007-2017) was 0.8% (95% CI, 0.5%-1.2%) and did not change over time (P = 0.55).

Conclusions: Anti-HCV prevalence among HIV-negative MSM attending the Amsterdam STI clinic in October 2016 was 1.0% and remained stable over time. We would therefore not recommend routine HCV screening of HIV-negative MSM at the STI clinic. However, given the increased prevalence among MSM using preexposure prophylaxis, periodic monitoring of HCV prevalence remains important.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Ambulatory Care Facilities
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • HIV
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology
  • Hepacivirus / immunology
  • Hepatitis C / epidemiology*
  • Hepatitis C / immunology*
  • Hepatitis C Antibodies / blood*
  • Homosexuality, Male*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mass Screening
  • Middle Aged
  • Netherlands / epidemiology
  • Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis*
  • Prevalence
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Risk-Taking

Substances

  • Hepatitis C Antibodies