S Ahmed

Publications (2)6.93 Total impact

• Article: Prevalence of, and risk factors for, hepatitis C virus infection among recent initiates to injecting in London and Glasgow: cross sectional analysis.

  A Judd, S Hutchinson, S Wadd, M Hickman, A Taylor, S Jones, J V Parry, S Cameron, T Rhodes, S Ahmed, S Bird, R Fox, A Renton, G V Stimson, D Goldberg
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  ABSTRACT: Our aim was to compare the prevalence of antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) among recently initiated injecting drug users (IDUs) in London and Glasgow, and to identify risk factors which could explain differences in prevalence between the cities. Complementary studies of community recruited IDUs who had initiated injection drug use since 1996 were conducted during 2001-2002. Data on HCV risk behaviours were gathered using structured questionnaires with identical core questions and respondents were asked to provide an oral fluid specimen which was tested anonymously for anti-HCV but was linked to the questionnaire. Sensitivities of the anti-HCV assays for oral fluid were 92-96%. Prevalence of anti-HCV was 35% (122/354) in London and 57% (207/366) in Glasgow (P < 0.001). Multifactorially, factors significantly associated with raised odds of anti-HCV positivity were increasing length of injecting career, daily injection, polydrug use, having had a needlestick injury, and having served a prison sentence. In addition lower odds of anti-HCV positivity were associated with non-injection use of crack cocaine and recruitment from drug agencies. After adjustment for these factors, the increased odds of anti-HCV associated with being a Glasgow IDU were diminished but remained significant. HCV continues to be transmitted among the IDU population of both cities at high rates despite the availability of syringe exchange and methadone maintenance. Effectiveness of harm reduction interventions may be compromised by inadequate coverage and failure to reduce sufficiently the frequency of sharing different types of injecting equipment, as well as the high background prevalence of HCV, and its high infectivity. Comprehensive action is urgently required to reduce the incidence of HCV among injectors.
  Journal of Viral Hepatitis 12/2005; 12(6):655-62. · 4.09 Impact Factor
• Source

  Available from: nih.gov

  Article: Severe illness and death among injecting drug users in Scotland: a case-control study.

  A Taylor, S Hutchinson, J Lingappa, S Wadd, S Ahmed, L Gruer, T H Taylor, K Roy, G Gilchrist, C McGuigan, G Penrice, D Goldberg
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  ABSTRACT: Between April and September 2000, 60 injecting drug users in Scotland died or were hospitalized with severe illness. Laboratory investigations suggested that Clostridium novyi and other bacteria were important aetiological agents. To determine associated environmental/behavioural factors a case-control study was undertaken with 19 'definite' and 32 'probable' cases in Glasgow, Scotland. For every deceased case (n=19), up to three proxy individuals were interviewed. Three controls were identified for each case. Multivariate logistic regression analyses compared (i) all cases and controls; (ii) definite cases and matched controls; (iii) probable cases and matched controls. In all three analyses injecting into muscle or skin and injecting most of the time with a filter used by someone else were the variables most strongly associated with illness. Comparing only muscle-injecting cases and controls, cases were significantly more likely to have injected larger amounts of heroin per average injection than were controls. The findings make an important epidemiological contribution to the understanding of the public health and clinical implications of the contamination of illicit drugs by histotoxic clostridia.
  Epidemiology and Infection 05/2005; 133(2):193-204. · 2.84 Impact Factor