A substantial percentage of the excess mortality in HIV-infected injection drug users (IDUs) appears to be explained by hepatitis C coinfection, according to international research. Mortality was higher in IDUs than in non-IDUs, but the effect of injection drug use on mortality was substantially attenuated after adjusting for hepatitis C infection. Attenuation of the effect of hepatitis C was less substantial after adjustment for injection drug use.
Source: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, July 1, 2015.
