EPIDEMIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF DRUG USE AND EFFECTIVENESS OF METHADONE SUBSTITUTION THERAPY IN HIV-POSITIVE INJECTING DRUG USERS INFECTED WITH VIRAL HEPATITIS C IN MINSK

Abstract

Background. In 2019 more than 7.6 thousand people were under medical supervision of the drug addiction service of the republic. Many injecting drug users (IDUs) are infected with HIV and viral hepatitis C (HCV) and are the sources of infection for the population. Objective – to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of IDUs of the Republic of Belarus and Minsk, to assess the effectiveness of methadone replacement therapy (MT) in Minsk in 2015-2019 and possible drug interactions in combination therapy for HIV and HCV in association with MT. Material and methods. The data from statistical reporting forms of the City Clinical Narcological Dispensary of Minsk (N=5396) and those of the activities of MT offices in Minsk (N=161) for 2015-2019 were used for the analysis. The obtained data were processed using statistical programs Microsoft Excel 2010, R. Results. It was found out that the proportion of women among IDUs in the republic and Minsk didn’t exceed20%. Among IDUs are predominantly 26-30-year-olds (23.07% in the republic, 33.27% in Minsk), individuals with secondary education (47% and 55.11% respectively), unmarried individuals (54% and 53.39% respectively). The share of HIV-positive program participants coinfected with viral hepatitis C (HCV) is 100.00% and among the IDUs admitted to the program, the proportion of participants with HIV-positive status is growing significantly (rate of increase is 26.32% 100.00, p<0.05) in 2019. Conclusions. The absence of the effect of direct-acting antivirals for the treatment of HCV on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of methadone may contribute to replacement therapy adherence.