PrEP Indications and PrEP Knowledge, Access, and Interest Among Individuals With HCV

Background. Individuals with hepatitis C (HCV) represent a population that may benefit from pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), given the overlapping risk factors and transmission networks of HCV and HIV. This analysis assesses the prevalence of PrEP indications among individuals with HCV monoinfection and PrEP awareness, interest, and access in this population. Methods. GRAVITY was an observational study for the collection of epidemiologic data from individuals with HCV and/or HIV in Washington DC and Baltimore, with the present analysis limited to HCV-monoinfected patients. The prevalence of PrEP indications was determined using epidemiologic survey responses. Bivariate and multivariable analyses assessed for associations between PrEP indications and PrEP awareness, access, and interest. Results. Among 314 HCV-monoinfected participants, 109 (35%) had an indication for PrEP. Forty-eight (44%) had a drug use indication alone, 40 (37%) had a sexual indication alone, and 21 (19%) had both drug use and sexual indications. Eighty-five (27%) participants had heard of PrEP, 32 (10%) had been offered PrEP by a provider, 114 (38%) were interested or maybe interested in PrEP, and 6 (2%) were currently taking PrEP. On bivariate analysis, PrEP awareness was significantly associated with study site (P < .0001), race (P = .0003), age (P< .0001), and sexual PrEP indication (P = .04). However, only study site remained significant (P = .0002) on regression analysis. Conclusions. Though indications for PrEP were prevalent among individuals with HCV in this cohort, most patients were unaware of PrEP, had never been offered PrEP, and were not using PrEP. These data support the need for improved PrEP implementation among people with HCV. Keywords. pre-exposure prophylaxis; HCV; HIV; HIV prevention; PWID; hepatitis C; people who inject drugs; PrEP.