The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #44029

Nancy X. T. Liu, MPH¹, Daniel F. Alvarez, MD², and Marcia Polansky, ScD¹. (1) School of Public Health, MCP Hahnemann University, 1505 Race Street, Mail Stop 660, Philadelphia, PA 19102, 301-738-3640, nxl22@drexel.edu, (2) Department of Medicine, MCP Hahnemann University Hospital, 1427 Vine Street, 5th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19102

Objective With the advent of highly active antiretroiviral therapy, HIV is rapidly becoming a manageable chronic disease with sustained decline in mortality and morbidity. As a result comorbidities due to hepatitis C have emerged to become one of the major causes of mortality among the HIV population. The objective of this study was to describe and analyze the sociodemographic characteristics, high-risk behavioral practices, psychiatric state, and clinical status of HIV individuals with and without hepatitis C. Methods A total of fifty-eight HIV patients of an inner city HIV/AIDS outpatient practice in Philadelphia, PA were enrolled in the study, 32 with HCV and 28 without HCV. Data were collected through a brief 15-minute interview and abstraction of medical chart for clinical and immunological data. Chi square tests were performed to determine any significant associations between hepatitis C seroprevalence and the outcome variables of interest. Logistic regression models were performed to characterize hepatitis C seroprevalence as a function of those variables found to be significant with Chi square tests. Results Of the sociodemographic that were examined, only age was significantly associated with hepatitis C seroprevalence (p=0.04). As for risk behaviors, IV drug use was strongly significant (p-value=0.000) and years of drug use was a predictor of HCV seroprevalence. Heavy alcohol use was associated with hepatitis C seroprevalence while social alcohol use was not (p=0.037 and 0.204 respectively). HIV viral load, CD4 count, and liver enzymes ALT and AST were not significantly associated with hepatitis C seroprevalence.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C coinfection in an inner city population.
• Describe the social and behavioral risk factors associated with HIV/HCV coinfection.
• Recognize the need for HIV and HCV coinfection specific management and treatment protocols.

Keywords: Hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.