Prevalence of hepatitis B and C infection and associated factors in people living with HIV in Midwestern Brazil

Abstract

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of infection by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in people infected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and analyze sociodemographic and behavioral factors associated with such co-infection. A cross-section study was performed in 495 individuals treated at a public center in the city of Goiânia. Participants were interviewed and blood collected for evaluation of serological and molecular markers for HBV and HCV. The rate of exposure to HBV was 33.5% (95% CI 29.4-37.9). Nineteen patients (3.8%) were diagnosed as HBV carriers, of whom 68.4% were HBV DNA positive. The prevalence of anti-HCV was 9.7% (95% CI 7.3-12.7). Genotype 1a was identified in 72.7% of the PCR samples positive for HCV. Co-infection by all three viruses was 4.4% (95% CI 2.9-6.8). Being, male, aged ≥40 years, history of sexually transmitted disease (STD), and having homosexual practices were independently associated with the presence of markers of HBV exposure. A history of injectable drugs use and STDs showed association with HCV seropositivity. Approximately 50% of participants were not aware of their HBV and HCV serostatus. The results obtained may contribute to assess the burden of viral hepatitis in people living with HIV and to guiding preventive measures for more vulnerable groups.

Profile of HIV subtypes in HIV/HBV- and HIV/HCV-coinfected patients in Southern Brazil

“…It has been estimated that 30% of people living with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (PLWHA) are coinfected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) or hepatitis B virus (HBV) 1 However, the prevalence of these coinfections is variable, reflecting differences in the regional sociodemographic profile and hepatitis B immunization coverage 2 . In Brazil, the prevalence of HIV/HCV coinfection ranged from 3.3% to 82.4%, with an average of around 20.3% 3 .…”

Hepatites B, C E Sífilis: Prevalência E Características Associadas À Coinfecção Entre Soropositivos

“…O risco sexual associado à baixa adesão ao uso de preservativo e multiplicidade de parceiros sexuais constituem fatores com elevada prevalência entre soropositivos que apresentam coinfecção. A combinação entre fatores de risco, soropositividade e presença de marcadores sorológicos para o HBV, HCV e T. pallidum, presente também neste estudo, revelam estatisticamente que indivíduos casados, heterossexuais, com idade superior a 35 anos, expostos ao uso de álcool ou drogas ilícitas são os mais vulneráveis a apresentarem alguma coinfecção (5,(14)(15) .…”

“…Como resultado do aumento da expectativa e qualidade de vida proporcionada pela TARV, as coinfecções HIV/Hepatite B (HBV); HIV/Hepatite C (HCV) e HIV/Treponema pallidum (Sífilis), tornaram-se importantes fatores causais para a morbimortalidade entre indivíduos soropositivos (4) . Por compartilharem vias de contágio e fatores de risco semelhantes, a prevalência de coinfecções HIV/Hepatites B, C e HIV/Sífilis apresenta grande variação, sendo influenciada principalmente pelas diferenças sociodemográficas, estilo de vida, comportamento sexual e acesso aos serviços de saúde (5)(6) . Globalmente, estima-se que haja aproximadamente 35 milhões de portadores do vírus HIV, 350 e 180 milhões de pessoas cronicamente infectadas respectivamente pelo HCV e HBV, e que ocorram 12 milhões de novos casos de sífilis entre soropositivos anualmente (7)(8)(9) .…”

“…http://dx.doi.org/10.5380/ce.v22i3.51693 2017 Trata-se de estudo quantitativo e descritivo, no qual foram avaliados dados sociodemográficos, comportamentais e sorológicos para infecção atual ou pregressa pelo HBV, HCV e T. pallidum, bactéria causadora da sífilis, entre indivíduos infectados pelo HIV.…”

Incidence of hepatitis C in Brazil

“…A likely explanation for the higher incidence rates in the South and Southeast may be better access to the health care systems in these regions, which are more organized (21) . Another factor that could explain the high rates of hepatitis C in southern and southeastern Brazil is the high rate of IDU, as this factor presents a strong association with hepatitis C positivity (22) . The northern region of the country is the location of the Amazon forest, as well as built-up areas, traditional indigenous populations, and a low population density; providing access to adequate medical care in these areas is diffi cult, and preventative measures are not very well accepted.…”