title: Prevalence and correlates of HIV and hepatitis B virus coinfection in Northern Alberta.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  HIV and hepatitis B virus (HBV) share transmission routes, and coinfection is associated with higher morbidity and mortality. To date, no Canadian studies have examined HIV-HBV coinfection.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the prevalence and correlates of HIV and HBV coinfections in Northern Alberta.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study was a retrospective database review of all HIV-infected (HIV+) individuals in Northern Alberta from 1982 to 2010 and a chart review of HBV surface antigen-positive individuals for whom charts were available (46.2%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 2844 HIV+ patients, 2579 (90.7%) had been tested for HBV surface antigen, and 143 (5.5%) of these were HBV coinfected. Coinfected males were primarily Caucasian (70.8%), and coinfected females were primarily black (56.4%) or Aboriginal (31.3%). Coinfected individuals were more likely to be male (88.1% versus 71.3%; P<0.001) and to have died (34.3% versus 17.9%; P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of coinfection with HBV in HIV-infected patients in Northern Alberta is lower than reported in other developed nations. The pattern of coinfections in Northern Alberta likely follows immigration trends. Recognition and management may be improving with time; however, further research and additional strategies are required to enhance the prevention, identification and management of HBV infection in HIV-infected individuals.
authors.affiliation: University of Alberta;
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pittman
authors.affiliation: University of Alberta;
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Plitt
authors.affiliation: Northern Alberta HIV Program, Edmonton, Alberta.
authors.forename: Ted
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Birse
authors.affiliation: University of Alberta; ; Northern Alberta HIV Program, Edmonton, Alberta.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Doucette
authors.affiliation: University of Alberta; ; Northern Alberta HIV Program, Edmonton, Alberta.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Romanowski
authors.affiliation: University of Alberta; ; Northern Alberta HIV Program, Edmonton, Alberta.
authors.forename: Rya
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.affiliation: University of Alberta; ; Northern Alberta HIV Program, Edmonton, Alberta.
authors.forename: Stan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Houston
authors.affiliation: University of Alberta; ; Northern Alberta HIV Program, Edmonton, Alberta.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shafran
authors.affiliation: University of Alberta; ; Northern Alberta HIV Program, Edmonton, Alberta.
authors.forename: Ameeta E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Singh
keywords: Alberta; Canada; Coinfection; HIV; Hepatitis B