ArticleBMC infectious diseases2026
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.
Article in BMC infectious diseases, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundHepatitis 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.
methodsA 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.
resultsIn 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.
conclusionThis 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.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.