Seroprevalence of Hepatitis E Virus Among Injection Drug Users and Non-Injection Drug Users in Hamadan, West of Iran

Background: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is a self-limited hepatitis and the most common cause of acute adult hepatitis in Asia. Young adults and middle-aged populations are more likely to be infected than other age groups. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of anti-HEV among injection drug users (IDUs) compared to nonIDUs. Patients and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study performed on ۱۳۱ IDUs referred to Farshchian Hospital, Hamadan, Iran and ۱۳۱ nonIDUs selected from healthy visitors between March ۲۰۱۱ and March ۲۰۱۲. Anti-HEV IgG was measured in serum by ELISA method (DiaPro, Milan, Italy). Data including age, gender, education, location and duration of injection drug used were collected using a questionnaire. Results: In this study, the seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus antibody among IDUs group was ۶.۱%, and ۱.۵% among non-IDU group (Odds Ratio = ۵.۴۸; CI = ۱/۰۶۹-۲۲/۸۴), indicating that injection drug users were almost five and a half times more than non-IDUs at risk of HEV infection (P = ۰.۰۵۳). There was no significant association between seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus and education level (P = ۰.۴۶), duration of injection (P = ۰.۳۸) and location (P = ۰.۱۹). Conclusions: Seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus among IDUs group was higher than non-IDU group, which might be due to possible blood transmission of HEV among IDUs.