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. 2022 Oct;23(9):959-968.
doi: 10.1111/hiv.13280. Epub 2022 Feb 25.

Viral hepatitis and the cascade of care among people living with HIV in the Asia-Pacific

Dhanushi Rupasinghe  1 , Jun Yong Choi  2 , Nagalingeswaran Kumarasamy  3 , Sanjay Pujari  4 , Ly Penh Sun  5 , Tuti Parwati Merati  6 , Man Po Lee  7 , Nguyen Van Kinh  8 , Sasisopin Kiertiburanakul  9 , Cuong Duy Do  10 , Anchalee Avihingsanon  11 , Jeremy Ross  12 , Awachana Jiamsakul  1 ; IeDEA Asia-Pacific
Affiliations

Viral hepatitis and the cascade of care among people living with HIV in the Asia-Pacific

Dhanushi Rupasinghe et al. HIV Med. 2022 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Although the prevalence and mortality of hepatitis is high in the Asia-Pacific region, few studies are available on the diagnosis, treatment, and cure rates for viral hepatitis among people living with HIV in this area. This study aims to report the cascade of care (CoC) for hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) among people living with HIV receiving combined antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Methods: Patients enrolled in the TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database Low Intensity Transfer (TAHOD-LITE) cohort, on ART, and with follow-up data from 2010 to 2019 were included. Patients were determined as positive for HCV or HBV co-infection if they ever tested positive for HCV antibody (anti-HCV) or HBV surface antigen (HBsAg), respectively.

Results: In total, 39% (8612/22 340) of the adult HIV cohort had undergone HBsAg testing, with 8% (672/8612) testing positive. HBV CoC demonstrated that 71% (474/672) of those with HBsAg positive results initiated treatment, 67% (318/474) of those on treatment had HBV DNA testing to evaluate treatment progression, and 18% (58/318) of those tested reached viral suppression. Of the cohort, 37% (8231/22 340) had anti-HCV testing, of whom 10% (779/8231) tested positive. The HCV CoC showed that 68% (526/779) of those with positive anti-HCV tests had HCV RNA tests, of whom 51% (267/526) had detectable HCV RNA. Among those with detectable HCV RNA, 65% (174/267) initiated HCV treatment. Of the 40% (69/174) who initiated HCV treatment, 90% (62/69) reached sustained virological response.

Conclusion: Our findings identified less frequent testing in the healthcare system and limited access to treatment as gaps in the CoC for viral hepatitis. More routine HCV RNA and HBV DNA testing is required for patients with positive screening tests to identify those in need of treatment.

Keywords: Asia-Pacific; HBV; HCV; PLHIV; cascade of care; viral hepatitis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest statement

The authors have no conflict of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1:
Figure 1:
Hepatitis B cascade of care Note: The percentage in brackets is the proportion of patients moving from one stage to the next
Figure 2:
Figure 2:
Hepatitis C cascade if care Note: The percentage in brackets is the proportion of patients moving from one stage to the next
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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