Abstract
Objective Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) coinfection increases the incidence of end-stage liver disease which is more severe in immune-compromised HIV-infected patients than HCV infection alone. The aim of this study was to assess HCV infection and the associated risk factors among HIV/AIDS patients attending Dessie Referral Hospital, Northeastern Ethiopia. Methods A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 249 HIV-infected adults selected by a systematic random sampling technique from January to March 2018. A structured questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic and risk factor data. Moreover, the blood specimen was collected and tested for CD4 count and anti-HCV antibody detection according to standard operating procedures. The data obtained were entered into SPSS version 20, and descriptive statistics, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. A P value ≤0.05 with a corresponding 95% confidence interval was considered as statistically significant. Result Of a total of 249 HIV-infected study subjects, 120 (48.2%) were male and 129 (51.8%) were females, while the mean (±SD) age and CD4+ cells/mm3 were 39.10 (±11.507) years and 316.08 + 290.607 cells/mm3, respectively. Anti-HCV antibody was detected in 13 (5.2%) patients with higher prevalence rate found in males (P=0.078) and elders >50 years of age (P=0.013) than their counterparts. Age group of >50 years of age (AOR = 9.070, 95% CI: 1.578, 52.117, P=0.013), longer duration of HIV treatment (AOR = 5.490, 95% CI: 1.341, 34.458, P=0.041), WHO clinical stage III/IV (AOR = 12.768, 95% CI: 2.293, 71.106, P=0.004), previous history of hospitalization (AOR = 10.234, 95% CI: 2.049, 51.118, P=0.005), tooth extraction (AOR = 6.016, 95% CI: 1.137, 36.837, P=0.048), and liver disease (AOR = 11.398, 95% CI: 1.275, 101.930, P=0.029) were statistically significant predictors of HCV infection. Conclusion The prevalence of HCV infection is still higher and causes concern. Therefore, screening of these high-risk groups should be critical to reduce mortality and to improve clinical outcomes.
Highlights
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) was first recognized in 1989 to be a cause of acute and chronic hepatitis related to transfusion [1]
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/ HCV coinfection is known to increase the incidence of endstage liver disease which is more severe in immunosuppressed patients infected with HIV than those who have HCV infection alone [7, 8]; as a result, HIV-infected individuals are at risk of being coinfected with HCV
In peoples living with HIV, liver disease is an important modifier of health [15]; and HCV infections are a major contributor for an increased morbidity and mortality rate among HIV patients that lead to rapid progression to AIDS, hepatocellular carcinoma [16], and end-stage liver disease [17]. erefore, investigation of HCV infection in HIVinfected patients is very important to prevent them from further infections and complications [18]
Summary
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) was first recognized in 1989 to be a cause of acute and chronic hepatitis related to transfusion [1]. HCV is the second major viral infection next to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) for more than two decades [2] which becomes a major public health problem causing estimated annual deaths of 350,000 patients worldwide [1]. An estimated 71 million people are chronically infected with HCV globally [3], of which 5 million people are coinfected with both HIV and HCV [4]. E prevalence of HIV/HCV coinfection (HCV among HIV-infected patients) is higher in developing nations which disproportionally varies geographically in sub-Saharan Africa from 0% to 22% [5]. HCV is associated with chronic liver disease leading to cirrhosis as well as hepatocellular carcinoma; about 20% of patients with chronic HCV infection are more prone to develop cirrhosis over an interval of 20 to 50 years [6].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
