Hepatitis C prevalence in HIV-infected individuals: a comparison of inpatient and outpatient care.
Summary Due to the shared risk factors for viral transmission, coinfection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) is common. This study examined the seroprevalence of HCV among HIV-infected patients in inpatient and outpatient settings. A retrospective chart review of 256 HIV-infected patients was conducted in Prince George's Hospital Center (inpatients from 1 September 2011 to 1 March 2012) and Glenridge Medical Center (outpatients from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2012). The mean age of the population was 46 ± 12 and 44 ± 11 for inpatients and outpatients, respectively. HIV-infected men comprised 61.9% inpatients and 64.8% outpatients. The overall prevalence of HCV infection in HIV/AIDS patients was 12.5% (32/256), with a higher prevalence in the inpatient group than that in the outpatient group (24.6% vs 11.2%, p < 0.01). The percentages of drug abuse (43.8% vs 16.5%, p < 0.01) and alcoholism (25.0% and 14.3%, p < 0.05) in HCV/HIV-coinfected patients were higher than those in HIV-monoinfected patients. In addition, only 64.9% of HIV-infected and 50.0% of HCV/HIV-coinfected inpatients were followed up with outside care after discharge. To our knowledge, this study, for the first time, revealed that HCV/HIV coinfection was significantly higher in inpatients compared to outpatients. Considering the high prevalence and comorbidities associated with HCV/HIV coinfection, it is recommended that evaluation of hepatic damage, especially fibrosis, should be initiated during hospitalization as well as outpatient care.
Internal Medicine Residency Program, Prince George's Hospital Center, Cheverly, MD, USA.
Ziqiang
Z
Zhu
Internal Medicine Residency Program, Prince George's Hospital Center, Cheverly, MD, USA.
Teena
T
Dhir
Internal Medicine Residency Program, Prince George's Hospital Center, Cheverly, MD, USA.
Myat
M
Soe
Internal Medicine Residency Program, Prince George's Hospital Center, Cheverly, MD, USA.
Linda
L
Green
Internal Medicine Residency Program, Prince George's Hospital Center, Cheverly, MD, USA ning.jiang@dimensionshealth.org.
Ning
N
Jiang
D060085:Coinfection; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D057286:Electronic Health Records; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016174:Hepacivirus; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
AIDS; HIV; Hepatitis C virus; coinfection; human immunodeficiency virus; inpatients; outpatients; prevalence