DISENTANGLING IDU AND HCV IMPACTS ON HIV OUTCOMES IN CANADIANS

Canadians coinfected with HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) had a worse response to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and a higher death rate if they had an injection drug use (IDU) history. The findings could clarify understanding of how HCV affects HIV infection.

CANOC Collaboration investigators observed that worse clinical outcomes seen in HIV/HCV-coinfected people may be partly attributable to socioeconomic and medical factors associated with injection drug use, which is the prime route of HCV transmission in people with HIV.

To assess the impact of injection drug use on HIV outcomes, the CANOC team studied coinfected people starting ART after 1 January 2000. The analysis included only people known to have-or not to have-an IDU history. The researchers used Cox proportional hazards regression to evaluate time from ART initiation to virologic suppression (two consecutive viral loads below 250 copies/mL) and gaining at least 100 CD4 cells/μL. To evaluate time to death, they used a competing risk analysis to account for loss to follow-up (dropping out of care).

Mark Mascolini
International AIDS Society
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During the Canada Post strike announced September 25, 2025, the following measures will be undertaken to minimize service disruption to BC-CfE clients and providers.

  • The BC-CfE Laboratory has transitioned to private courier for delivery of outgoing reports and documents. Results required urgently can be faxed upon request. (Lab Contact Information: Phone 604-806-8775; FAX 604-806-9463)
  • The BC-CfE Drug Treatment Program (DTP) will fax outgoing forms and documents to the provider’s office. (DTP Contact Information: Phone 604-806-8515; FAX 604-806-9044)
  • St. Paul’s Hospital Ambulatory Pharmacy has transitioned to private courier for delivery of medications. We recommend requesting medication at least 2 weeks in advance in case of delivery delays, particularly to rural/remote parts of BC. (Contact Information: Phone 1-800-547-3622; FAX 604-806-8675)

During the Canada Post strike, we recommend that documents be faxed or couriered to our sites, versus utilization of regular mail service

The BC-CfE Laboratory is streamlining reporting processes for certain tests in order to simplify distribution and record-keeping, and to ensure completeness of results. Beginning September 2, 2025, results for the ‘Resistance Analysis of HIV-1 Protease and Reverse Transcriptase’ (Protease-RT) and ‘HIV-1 Integrase Resistance Genotype’ tests will be combined into a single ‘HIV-1 Resistance Genotype Report’.
For more details and example reports, please click on the button below

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