Social vulnerability in persons with chronic hepatitis C virus infection is associated with a higher risk of prescription opioid use

Prescription opioid use (POU) is often a precursor to opioid use disorder (OUD) and subsequent consequences. Persons with chronic hepatitis C virus infection (CHC) may be at a higher risk of POU due to a higher comorbidity burden and social vulnerability factors. We sought to determine the burden of POU and associated risk factors among persons with CHC in the context of social vulnerability. We identified CHC persons and propensity-score matched HCV− controls in the electronically retrieved Cohort of HCV-Infected Veterans and determined the frequency of acute, episodic long-term and chronic long-term POU and the prevalence of social vulnerability factors among persons with POU. We used logistic regression analysis to determine factors associated with POU. Among 160,856 CHC and 160,856 propensity-score matched HCV-controls, acute POU was recorded in 38.4% and 38.0% (P = 0.01) respectively. Episodic long-term POU was recorded in 3.9% in each group (P = 0.5), while chronic long-term POU was recorded in 28.4% and 19.2% (P < 0.0001). CHC was associated with a higher risk of chronic long-term POU (OR 1.66, 95%CI 1.63, 1.69), but not with acute or episodic long-term POU. Black race, female sex and homelessness were associated with a higher risk of chronic long-term POU. Presence of ≥ 1 factor was associated with a higher risk of all POU patterns. Persons with CHC have more social vulnerability factors and a higher risk of chronic long-term POU. Presence of ≥ 1 social vulnerability factor is associated with a higher risk of POU. Downstream consequences of POU need further study.