Drug Misuse Statistics Scotland 2007 - Drug Misuse Information ...

Blood-borne Viruses
C4
Blood-borne viruses
Key Points 2006
Hepatitis B Virus
Overview
■ In 2006 there were 13 new hepatitis B virus (HBV) diagnoses among persons for whom injecting drug
use was indicated as a risk factor (Table C4.1).
Five Year Trends – 2002 to 2006
■ The overall number of new diagnoses of HBV declined between 2002 and 2004 from 354 to 341, but
rose in 2005 (372) and 2006 (375). This rise was not reflected in figures for new hepatitis B infected
injecting drug users (IDUs) which show a decline between 2002 (38) and 2006 (13) (Table C4.1).
Geographical Profile
■ Reports of new hepatitis B cases in IDUs were received from 7 NHS board areas. However, no NHS board
reported more than 3 new cases in 2006 (Table C4.1).
Hepatitis C Virus
Overview
■ In 2006 759 IDU’s were diagnosed with hepatitis C virus (HCV). IDUs accounted for 50% of the 1,519
HCV cases diagnosed in 2006 (Table C4.2).
■ The total number of IDUs known to be infected with the hepatitis C virus is 13,146, accounting for 89%
of the 14,765 HCV reports in Scotland for which the possible/probably route of transmission was known.
There have been a further 7,306 reports in Scotland where the route of transmission is not known, some
of which would be expected to be IDUs (Tables C4.2).
■ Seventy percent of the IDU’s with a diagnosis of HCV were male (Table C4.3).
■ Forty-nine percent of IDUs were recorded as aged under 30 years old when diagnosed with HCV. Four
percent were recorded as aged under 20 years old on diagnosis (Table C4.3).
Health Impact
Five Year Trends – 2002 to 2006
■ Between 2002 and 2006 there has been a decrease in the total number of HCV cases reported each year,
from 1,795 to 1,519. This decrease has been more marked in the number of IDU HCV cases reported,
falling from 1,143 in 2001 to 759 in 2006. However, there was an increase in the number of cases of
HCV reported where the probable/possible route of transmission was not known, from 555 in 2002 to
635 in 2006, some of which would be expected to be IDUs (Table C4.2).
Geographical Profile
■ Of the 13,146 reports of HCV infected IDUs 44% were from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, a further
15% were from NHS Lothian and 14% were from NHS Grampian (Table C4.2).
Drug Misuse Statistics Scotland 2007
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