title: Incidence of hepatitis C in HIV positive and negative men who have sex with men 2000-2016: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a need for systematic reviews and meta-analyses to synthesize the epidemiology, and the riskfactors for hepatitis C virus (HCV) among HIV-coinfected and HIV negative men who have sex with men (MSM).
  
  
  METHODS
  A meta-analysis of 28 studies was carried out by pooling HCV incidence data of HIV-coinfected and HIV negative MSM. Differences in incidence outcome depending on the prospective or retrospective nature of the individual studies were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pooled incidence of HCV in MSM was 6.3 per 1000 person-years (95% CI 5.0-7.5). The overall estimated incidence was 19-fold higher in HIV positive compared to HIV negative MSM living in resource-rich countries. This result was confirmed when the analysis was restricted to high-quality studies. Factors associated with an increased risk for incident HCV included behavioural factors (sexual risk behaviour and recreational drug use) as well as biological characteristics (HIV coinfection and a recent history of syphilis).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, incident HCV predominantly affects HIV positive MSM. The incidence rate varied largely between studies, factors such as study design might play an important role.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital of Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ghisla
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital of Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.|Institute of Medical Virology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Alexandra U
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Scherrer
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nursing Science, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Dunja
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nicca
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital of Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. dominique.braun@usz.ch.|Institute of Medical Virology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. dominique.braun@usz.ch.
authors.forename: Dominique L
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4036-1030
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital of Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jan S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Fehr
mesh_terms: D060085:Coinfection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male
keywords: HIV; Hepatitis C; Men having sex with men; Meta-analysis; Prospective study; Retrospective study