Journal Article

Hepatitis C and HIV co-infection, viral load, and liver enzyme profiles among intravenous and non-intravenous drug users in Jorhat, Assam: a comparative analysis

Gogoi, Barbi, Das, Angshurekha, Dutta, Sima Kumari, Phukon, Pinkee, Barua, Purnima

2026

Overview

Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a serious global public health issue, especially for intravenous drug users (IVDUs), who are more vulnerable because of risky behaviours, including sharing needles. This study sought to determine the prevalence of HIV and HCV infections, explore the relationship between liver enzyme levels and HCV viral load, and analyze sociodemographic characteristics among drug users in Jorhat, Assam, India. Methods A total of 461 participants were enrolled, comprising 108 IVDUs and 353 non-IVDUs. For HCV screening, rapid test kits and ELISA were used. RT-PCR was performed to measure the HCV RNA viral load, and AST and ALT levels of the liver enzymes were assessed. Data were evaluated using chi-squared tests. Results In comparison to non-IVDUs, IVDUs were substantially younger, more likely to be unmarried, unemployed, and less educated. HCV positivity rate was highest in the 21–30-year age group for both IVDUs (83.8%) and non-IVDUs (97.2%). Compared to non-IVDUs (25.49%), IVDUs exhibited noticeably greater HCV viral loads (> 1001 IU/mL in 59.25%). Co-infection between HIV and HCV was found in 25.9% of IVDUs. Elevated liver enzymes were noted among IVDUs (ALT: 107.44 ± 114.30 IU/mL; AST: 94.60 ± 97.50 IU/mL), which is indicative of hepatic damage. Conclusion This study emphasizes that IVDUs have a high prevalence of HCV and HIV co-infections, increased viremia, and abnormal liver enzymes. For high-risk populations, targeted public health interventions such as integrated treatment services, early identification, and harm-reduction tactics are essential to halting transmission and improving results. Clinical trial number Not applicable.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Adolescent / Adult / Age groups / Alanine Transaminase - blood / Analysis / Antibodies / Aspartate Aminotransferases - blood / Coinfection - epidemiology / Coinfection - virology / Comparative analysis / Cross-Sectional Studies / Diagnostic tests / Drug abuse / Drug addicts / Drug therapy / Drug users / Drug Users - statistics & numerical data / Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay / Enzymes / Epidemiology / Female / Genomes / HCV viral load / Health aspects / Health promotion / Hepacivirus - genetics / Hepacivirus - isolation & purification / Hepatitis / Hepatitis C / Hepatitis C - complications / Hepatitis C - enzymology / Hepatitis C - epidemiology / Hepatitis C - virology / Hepatitis C virus / HIV / HIV (Viruses) / HIV Infections - complications / HIV Infections - epidemiology / HIV Infections - virology / Human immunodeficiency virus / Humans / Hypodermic needles / India - epidemiology / Infection / Infectious Diseases / Internal Medicine / Intravenous administration / Intravenous drug users / Liver / Liver - enzymology / Liver - virology / Liver cancer / Liver cirrhosis / Male / Measurement / Medical Microbiology / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Middle Aged / Mortality / Parasitology / Patient outcomes / Prevalence / Prevalence studies (Epidemiology) / Public health / Risk factors / RNA / RNA, Viral - blood / Substance Abuse, Intravenous - complications / Substance Abuse, Intravenous - epidemiology / Tropical Medicine / Viral infections / Viral Load / Viremia / Young Adult