Epidemiological implications of HIV-hepatitis C co-infection in South and Southeast Asia

Trends in hepatitis C virus coinfection and its cascade of care among adults living with HIV in Asia between 2010 and 2020

BACKGROUND

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection contributes to substantial morbidity and mortality among adults living with HIV. Cascades of HCV care support monitoring of program performance, but data from Asia are limited. We assessed regional HCV coinfection and cascade outcomes among adults living with HIV in care from 2010-2020.

METHODS

Patients ≥18 years old with confirmed HIV infection on antiretroviral therapy (ART) at 11 clinical sites in Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam were included. HCV- and HIV-related treatment and laboratory data were collected from those with a positive HCV antibody (anti-HCV) test after January 2010. An HCV cascade was evaluated, including proportions positive for anti-HCV, tested for HCV RNA or HCV core antigen (HCVcAg), initiated on HCV treatment, and achieved sustained virologic response (SVR). Factors associated with screening uptake, treatment initiation, and treatment response were analyzed using Fine and Gray's competing risk regression model.

RESULTS

Of 24,421 patients, 9169 (38%) had an anti-HCV test, and 971 (11%) had a positive result. The proportion with positive anti-HCV was 12.1% in 2010-2014, 3.9% in 2015-2017, and 3.8% in 2018-2020. From 2010 to 2014, 34% with positive anti-HCV had subsequent HCV RNA or HCVcAg testing, 66% initiated HCV treatment, and 83% achieved SVR. From 2015 to 2017, 69% with positive anti-HCV had subsequent HCV RNA or HCVcAg testing, 59% initiated HCV treatment, and 88% achieved SVR. From 2018 to 2020, 80% had subsequent HCV RNA or HCVcAg testing, 61% initiated HCV treatment, and 96% achieved SVR. Having chronic HCV in later calendar years and in high-income countries were associated with increased screening, treatment initiation or achieving SVR. Older age, injecting drug use HIV exposure, lower CD4 and higher HIV RNA were associated with reduced HCV screening or treatment initiation.

CONCLUSIONS

Our analysis identified persistent gaps in the HCV cascade of care, highlighting the need for focused efforts to strengthen chronic HCV screening, treatment initiation, and monitoring among adult PLHIV in the Asia region.

High prevalence and genotype distribution of hepatitis C virus in people living with HIV in Kathmandu, Nepal

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection is still a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among HIV-positive individuals in many resource-limited countries. As prevalence rates of co-infection using the serological diagnosis of HCV infection might be imprecise, estimates of prevalence using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmed diagnosis is needed to guide HCV treatment efforts among HIV-positive individuals in resource-limited countries.

METHODS

We conducted this community-based cross-sectional study among 280 HIV-positive individuals recruited through the networks of five non-government organizations working with HIV-positive individuals in Kathmandu, Nepal. We collected blood samples from each participant and tested all the anti-HCV positive samples for HCV-RNA and genotypes. We calculated the prevalence of HCV/HIV co-infection and examined factors associated with it using multivariable logistic regression analysis. We also calculated the proportion of infection by different HCV genotypes and investigated HCV seroconversion.

RESULTS

The prevalence of HCV/HIV co-infection was 29.6% (95% CI 24.25-34.95). History of a lifetime injecting drug use was associated with a higher likelihood of HCV/HIV co-infection (p < .001). Of the 81 individuals whose serum samples were available for genotype assessment, 55.7% tested positive for genotype 3A, 36.7% for genotype 1A and the remaining samples' genotype was undetermined (7.6%). Of the 100 anti-HCV positive samples, 17 (17.0%) tested negative for HCV RNA.

CONCLUSIONS

High prevalence of HCV/HIV co-infection, distribution of prevalent HCV genotype 1A and 3A and HCV seroconversion rate have important implications for the public health system in guiding HCV treatment and control efforts among HIV-positive individuals.

The changing modes of human immunodeficiency virus transmission and spatial variations among women in a minority prefecture in southwest China: An exploratory study

Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in Southwest China has a high human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence rate. This study examined the changing modes of HIV transmission among women with new HIV infections and explored the spatial heterogeneities in the factors associated with heterosexual transmission in this minority region.The data consisting of women with new HIV infections from 2011 to 2014 were collected from multiple sources. New infections were identified by BED capture enzyme immunoassay. The Bayesian hierarchical model was used to estimate the proportion of women with new HIV infections via heterosexual transmission across all townships in the Prefecture. A geographically weighted regression (GWR) model was utilized to investigate spatial variations in the sociodemographic characteristics associated with the changing modes of HIV transmission.An analytical sample of 927 women with new HIV infections was constructed and utilized to investigate the changing mode of HIV transmission. The rate of heterosexual transmission among women with new HIV infections in 2011 was below 20%. However, by 2014 this rate dramatically increased to nearly 80%. Among sociodemographic characteristics, GWR results revealed significant ethnic differences in heterosexual HIV transmission between Yi women and women in other ethnic groups, with Yi women demonstrating a lower risk of infection through heterosexual transmission. However, such ethnic differences were observed only in 30% of the townships in the Prefecture. Moreover, having a primary education decreased the odds of heterosexual transmission, which was observed in about 56% of the townships. Also, being involved in occupations other than agriculture or animal husbandry and being single or married decreased the odds of HIV infection through heterosexual contact among women, which did not significantly vary across the Prefecture.Heterosexual transmission was the predominant mode of HIV transmission among women in the Prefecture, and this transformation was clearly marked by a fast-growing trend and a spatial diffusion pattern. Spatial variations also existed in sociodemographic factors that were associated with the changing modes of HIV transmission.

Prevalence of HIV/Hepatitis C Virus Co-Infection and Injection Risk Correlations in People Who Inject Drugs in Colombia: A Cross-Sectional Study Using Respondent Driven Sampling

Background: In Colombia, an exponential growth of people who inject drugs (PWID) has been reported over the past decades. The main burden of disease in PWID is attributed to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) and their co-infection is associated with poor prognosis, high morbidity and treatment related implications. Nevertheless, the prevalence of HIV/HCV co-infection in Colombian PWIDs is unknown. Objective: To determine the prevalence, demographic characteristics, and injecting behaviors of HIV/HCV co-infected PWID in Colombia. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 1,123 PWID recruited by respondent driven sampling in five Colombian cities between January and June of 2014. Each participant completed a quantitative survey, and blood samples for HIV and HCV antibody testing were obtained. A multinomial logistic regression was used for statistical analysis. Results: Average participant age was 26.3 ± 6.5 years, and the majority was male (86%). HIV or HCV mono-infection prevalence was 27.6%, while co-infection was 3.3%. Compared with PWID with mono-infection, co-infected PWID exhibited higher odds of: injecting ≥4 times daily (OR: 3.5; CI: 1.7-7.2; p < .001), cleaning needles and syringes with water (OR 3.2; CI: 1.6-6.3; p < .001), passing drug mix between syringes (OR: 2.7; CI: 1.3-5.3; p = .04), injecting on illegal indoor shooting galleries (OR: 2.4; CI: 1.0-5.3, p = .02), and getting injected by someone who charges for injecting (OR 2.3; CI: 1.0-5.2; p = .04). Conclusion: Prevalence of HIV/HCV co-infection among PWID in Colombia is lower than that reported in other countries. However, addressing the identified demographic characteristics and injection risk behaviors of co-infected PWID is essential for the implementation of broadly available harm reduction interventions as well as routine HIV/HCV testing and treatment strategies aiming to control the spread of both viruses and their associated morbidity and mortality.

The changing epidemiology of liver diseases in the Asia-Pacific region

This Review presents current epidemiological trends of the most common liver diseases in Asia-Pacific countries. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains the primary cause of cirrhosis; despite declining prevalence in most Asian nations, this virus still poses a severe threat in some territories and regions. Mortality resulting from HBV infection is declining as a result of preventive measures and antiviral treatments. The epidemiological transition of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has varied in the region in the past few decades, but the medical burden of infection and the prevalence of its related cancers are increasing. The lack of licensed HCV vaccines highlights the need for novel treatment strategies. The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has risen in the past decade, mostly owing to increasingly urbanized lifestyles and dietary changes. Alternative herbal medicine and dietary supplements are major causes of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) in some countries. Complications arising from these chronic liver diseases, including cirrhosis and liver cancer, are therefore emerging threats in the Asia-Pacific region. Key strategies to control these liver diseases include monitoring of at-risk populations, implementation of national guidelines and increasing public and physician awareness, in concert with improving access to health care.

Discrepancies in prevalence trends for HIV, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus in Haiphong, Vietnam from 2007 to 2012

We previously reported a significant reduction in the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV) from 2007 to 2012 in people who inject drugs (PWID; 35.9% to 18.5%, p < 0.001) and female sex workers (FSW; 23.1% to 9.8%, p < 0.05), but not in blood donors (BD) or pregnant women, in Haiphong, Vietnam. Our aim in the present study was to assess trends in the prevalence of infection with hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV and HCV, respectively). We also investigated the coinfection rates of HBV and HCV with HIV in the same groups. Between 2007 and 2012, HBV prevalence was significantly decreased in BD (18.1% vs. 9.0%, p = 0.007) and slightly decreased in FSW (11.0% vs. 3.9%, p = 0.21), but not in PWID (10.7% vs. 11.1%, p = 0.84). HCV prevalence was significantly decreased in PWID (62.1% in 2007 vs. 42.7% in 2008, p < 0.0001), but it had rebounded to 58.4% in 2012 (2008 vs. 2012, p < 0.0001). HCV prevalence also increased in FSW: 28.6% in 2007 and 2009 vs. 35.3% in 2012; however, this difference was not significant (2007 vs. 2012, p = 0.41). Rates of coinfection with HBV and HCV among HIV-infected PWID and FSW did not change significantly during the study period. Our findings suggest that the current harm reduction programs designed to prevent HIV transmission in PWID and FSW may be insufficient to prevent the transmission of hepatitis viruses, particularly HCV, in Haiphong, Vietnam. New approaches, such as the introduction of catch-up HBV vaccination to vulnerable adult populations and the introduction of HCV treatment as prevention, should be considered to reduce morbidity and mortality due to HIV and hepatitis virus coinfection in Vietnam.

Long-Term Liver Diseases after Initiation of Antiretroviral Therapy in HIV-Infected Patients with and without HBV or HCV Coinfection

Coinfection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) with HIV is common and associated with increased mortality and increased risk of progression to chronic liver disease. We aimed to study long-term liver diseases after initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV-infected patients with and without HBV or HCV coinfection. A retrospective cohort of 92 patients (32 patients with HBV and/or HCV coinfection) was analyzed. Overall mean age was 38.3 years, and 54.3% were males. Immunological and virological responses were similar between the 2 groups ( P > .05). During a median follow-up period of 6.1 years, 12 (13.0%) patients had liver diseases. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the coinfection group had a significantly higher probability of developing liver diseases after ART (log-rank test, P < .001). Among the subgroup of 32 patients with coinfection, patients who were initiated ART at CD4 count <200 cells/mm³ had a higher rate of liver diseases compared to those who were initiated ART at CD4 count ≥200 cells/mm³ (42.3% versus 16.7%; P = .004).

High Proportion of HIV-HCV Coinfected Patients with Advanced Liver Fibrosis Requiring Hepatitis C Treatment in Haiphong, Northern Vietnam (ANRS 12262)

Rationale and Aims

Screening and treatment for chronic hepatitis C are very limited in Vietnam and clinical data on HCV-related liver disease in HIV-coinfected people are almost inexistent. This study aimed to assess the severity of liver fibrosis and its risk factors in HIV-HCV coinfected patients in Haiphong, Northern Vietnam.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted at a HIV outpatient clinic. Consecutive HIV treated adults with positive HCV serology completed a standardised epidemiological questionnaire and had a comprehensive liver assessment including hepatic elastography (Fibroscan^®, Echosens).

Results

From February to March 2014, 104 HIV-HCV coinfected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) were prospectively enrolled (99 males, median age: 35.8 (32.7–39.6) years, median CD4 count: 504 (361–624) /mm³. Of them, 93 (89.4%) had detectable HCV RNA (median 6.19 (4.95–6.83 Log₁₀ IU/mL). Patients were mainly infected with genotypes 1a/1b (69%) and genotypes 6a/6e (26%). Forty-three patients (41.3%) had fibrosis ≥F2 including 24 patients (23.1%) with extensive fibrosis (F3) and/or cirrhosis (F4). In univariate analysis, excessive alcohol consumption, estimated time duration from HCV infection, nevirapine and lopinavir-based ARV regimen and CD4 nadir were associated factors of extensive fibrosis/cirrhosis. Alcohol abuse was the only independent factor of extensive fibrosis in multivariate analysis. Using Fibroscan^® as a gold standard, the high thresholds of AST-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) and fibrosis-4 score (FIB-4) had very good performances for the diagnosis of extensive fibrosis/cirrhosis (Se: 90 and 100%, Sp:84 and 81%, AUROCs = 0.93, 95%CI: 0.86–0.99 and 0.96 (0.92–0.99), respectively).

Conclusion

In this study, nearly 25% of HIV-HCV coinfected patients successfully treated with ART have extensive fibrosis or cirrhosis, and therefore require urgently HCV treatment.

Epidemiology of hepatitis C virus in HIV-infected patients

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review will give an update on the prevalence of HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection, and describe recent trends in all-cause and cause-specific mortality. The focus is mainly on patients followed in clinics in high-income countries and their heterogeneity in terms of risk factors and clinical outcomes.

RECENT FINDINGS

In countries that have introduced comprehensive preventive strategies for injection drug users, the prevalence of HIV/HCV coinfection has declined. Compared with HIV monoinfected patients, the mortality among HCV-coinfected patients remains markedly increased because of multiple risk factors, in particular among drug users. The spectrum of causes of death among coinfected has recently been described in large cohort studies. Around a quarter of all deaths were liver related, and the incidence has decreased in Western Europe and stabilized in Eastern Europe where AIDS remains the dominant cause of death. In North America, the incidence of end-stage liver disease has not decreased despite improvements in HIV care. HCV treatment seems to have had little effect thus far on mortality at the population level.

SUMMARY

Despite a decreasing prevalence of HIV/HCV coinfection in many countries, coinfection remains an important clinical problem that requires a multidisciplinary approach including direct-acting antivirals for those at risk of liver-related death.

HIV, HBV and HCV Coinfection Prevalence in Iran--A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

worldwide, hepatitis C and B virus infections (HCV and HCV), are the two most common coinfections with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and has become a major threat to the survival of HIV-infected persons. The review aimed to estimate the prevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV, HIV/HCV and HIV/HBV and triple coinfections in different subpopulations in Iran.

METHOD

Following PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of reports on prevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV and HIV coinfections in different subpopulations in Iran. We systematically reviewed the literature to identify eligible studies from January 1996 to March 2012 in English or Persian/Farsi databases. We extracted the prevalence of HIV antibodies (diagnosed by Elisa confirmed with Western Blot test), HCV antibodies and HBsAg (with confirmatory laboratory test) as the main primary outcome. We reported the prevalence of the three infections and coinfections as point and 95% confidence intervals.

FINDINGS

HIV prevalence varied from %0.00 (95% CI: 0.00-0.003) in the general population to %17.25 (95% CI: 2.94-31.57) in people who inject drugs (PWID). HBV prevalence ranged from % 0.00 (95% CI: 0.00-7.87) in health care workers to % 30.9 (95% CI: 27.88-33.92) in PWID. HCV prevalence ranged from %0.19 (95% CI: 0.00-0.66) in health care workers to %51.46 (95% CI: 34.30-68.62) in PWID. The coinfection of HIV/HBV and also HIV/HCV in the general population and in health care workers was zero, while the most common coinfections were HIV/HCV (10.95%), HIV/HBV (1.88%) and triple infections (1.25%) in PWID.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that PWID are severely and disproportionately affected by HIV and the other two infections, HCV and HBV. Screenings of such coinfections need to be reinforced to prevent new infections and also reduce further transmission in their community and to others.

An international perspective on using opioid substitution treatment to improve hepatitis C prevention and care for people who inject drugs: Structural barriers and public health potential

People who inject drugs (PWID) are central to the hepatitis C virus (HCV) epidemic. Opioid substitution treatment (OST) of opioid dependence has the potential to play a significant role in the public health response to HCV by serving as an HCV prevention intervention, by treating non-injection opioid dependent people who might otherwise transition to non-sterile drug injection, and by serving as a platform to engage HCV infected PWID in the HCV care continuum and link them to HCV treatment. This paper examines programmatic, structural and policy considerations for using OST as a platform to improve the HCV prevention and care continuum in 3 countries-the United States, Estonia and Viet Nam. In each country a range of interconnected factors affects the use OST as a component of HCV control. These factors include (1) that OST is not yet provided on the scale needed to adequately address illicit opioid dependence, (2) inconsistent use of OST as a platform for HCV services, (3) high costs of HCV treatment and health insurance policies that affect access to both OST and HCV treatment, and (4) the stigmatization of drug use. We see the following as important for controlling HCV transmission among PWID: (1) maintaining current HIV prevention efforts, (2) expanding efforts to reduce the stigmatization of drug use, (3) expanding use of OST as part of a coordinated public health approach to opioid dependence, HIV prevention, and HCV control efforts, (4) reductions in HCV treatment costs and expanded health system coverage to allow population level HCV treatment as prevention and OST as needed. The global expansion of OST and use of OST as a platform for HCV services should be feasible next steps in the public health response to the HCV epidemic, and is likely to be critical to efforts to eliminate or eradicate HCV.

Global HIV epidemiology: A guide for strategies in prevention and care

Global trends in HIV incidence are estimated typically by serial prevalence surveys in selected sentinel populations or less often in representative population samples. Incidence estimates are often modeled because cohorts are costly to maintain and are rarely representative of larger populations. From global trends, we can see reason for cautious optimism. Downward trends in generalized epidemics in Africa, concentrated epidemics in persons who inject drugs (PWID), some female sex worker cohorts, and among older men who have sex with men (MSM) have been noted. However, younger MSM and those from minority populations, as with black MSM in the United States, show continued transmission at high rates. Among the many HIV prevention strategies, current efforts to expand testing, linkage to effective care, and adherence to antiretroviral therapy are known as "treatment as prevention" (TasP). A concept first forged for the prevention of mother to child transmission, TasP generates high hopes that persons treated early will derive considerable clinical benefits and that lower infectiousness will reduce transmission in communities. With the global successes of risk reduction for PWID, we have learned that reducing marginalization of the at-risk population, implementation of nonjudgmental and pragmatic sterile needle and syringe exchange programs, and offering of opiate substitution therapy to help persons eschew needle use altogether can work to reduce the HIV epidemic. Never has the urgency of stigma reduction and guarantees of human rights been more urgent; a public health approach to at-risk populations requires that to avail themselves of prevention services and they must feel welcomed.

HIV and noncommunicable diseases: the Asian perspective

Asia is seeing a rise in noncommunicable diseases in their general population and among people living with HIV. Many Asians have low body weight, which can lead to higher plasma concentrations of antiretrovirals and, as a result, their toxicities. Examples are metabolic complications from protease inhibitors, chronic kidney disease from tenofovir, and hepatotoxicity from nevirapine. Asia has not only the highest burden of hepatitis B viral infection than any other continent but also a predominance of genotypes B and C, the latter associated with higher risk for hepatocellular carcinoma. HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders are equally common among Asians as other populations. Diastolic dysfunction and asymptomatic myocardial ischemia are not infrequent. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is the most common AIDS-related cancer, whereas Kaposi sarcoma is relatively infrequent. Emerging data show high prevalence of human papillomavirus-associated anal dysplasia in men who have sex with men. Resource-limited countries in Asia suffer from lack of resources for national screening programs of noncommunicable diseases, which, in turn, limits the epidemiologic data that exist to guide the use of national health resources.