Prevalence and correlates of SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity among people who inject drugs in Baltimore, Maryland

Eshan U Patel; Shruti H Mehta; Becky L Genberg; Owen R Baker; Catherine G Schluth; Jacquie Astemborski; Reinaldo E Fernandez; Thomas C Quinn; Gregory D Kirk; Oliver Laeyendecker

doi:10.1016/j.dadr.2023.100184

Prevalence and correlates of SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity among people who inject drugs in Baltimore, Maryland

Drug Alcohol Depend Rep. 2023 Aug 9:8:100184. doi: 10.1016/j.dadr.2023.100184. eCollection 2023 Sep.

Authors

Eshan U Patel¹, Shruti H Mehta¹, Becky L Genberg¹, Owen R Baker², Catherine G Schluth¹, Jacquie Astemborski¹, Reinaldo E Fernandez², Thomas C Quinn^{1

2

3}, Gregory D Kirk^{1

2}, Oliver Laeyendecker^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
² Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
³ Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Abstract

Background: SARS-CoV-2 serosurveys can help characterize disparities in SARS-CoV-2 infection and identify gaps in population immunity. Data on SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among people who inject drugs (PWID) are limited.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study between December 2020 and July 2022 among 561 participants in the AIDS Linked to the IntraVenous Experience (ALIVE) study-a community-based cohort of current and former PWID in Baltimore, Maryland. Serum samples were assayed for infection-induced anti-nucleocapsid (anti-N) and infection and/or vaccination-induced anti-spike-1 (anti-S) SARS-CoV-2 IgG. We estimated adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) via modified Poisson regression models.

Results: The median age was 59 years, 35% were female, 84% were non-Hispanic Black, and 16% reported recent injection drug use. Anti-N antibody prevalence was 26% and anti-S antibody prevalence was 63%. Anti-N and anti-S antibody prevalence increased over time. Being employed (aPR=1.53 [95%CI=1.11-2.11]) was associated with higher anti-N prevalence, while a cancer history (aPR=0.40 [95%CI=0.17-0.90]) was associated with lower anti-N prevalence. HIV infection was associated with higher anti-S prevalence (aPR=1.13 [95%CI=1.02-1.27]), while younger age and experiencing homelessness (aPR=0.78 [95%CI=0.60-0.99]) were factors associated with lower anti-S prevalence. Substance use-related behaviors were not significantly associated with anti-N or anti-S prevalence.

Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence increased over time among current and former PWID, suggesting cumulative increases in the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination; however, there were disparities in infection-induced seroprevalence and infection and/or vaccine-induced seroprevalence within this study sample. Dedicated prevention and vaccination programs are needed to prevent disparities in infection and gaps in population immunity among PWID during emerging epidemics.

Keywords: COVID-19; Disparities; People who inject drugs; People who use drugs; Substance use; Vaccination.

Abstract

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