Awareness of Hepatitis C Infection Among Women With and At Risk for HIV

Abstract

One quarter of women with HCV in this cohort were not aware of their diagnosis. Among those aware of their HCV, 1 in 4 received liver biopsy and treatment for HCV. Both provider and patient education interventions regarding HCV testing and HCV treatment options and guidelines are needed to enhance HCV awareness and participation in HCV evaluation and treatment.

Prevalence and Patient Awareness of Medical Comorbidities in an Urban AIDS Clinic

“…28 This is consistent with recently issued primary care guidelines for the management of HIV-positive persons. 29 While this is the first study to comprehensively investigate the concordance between self-report and medical record data of non-HIV-related medical comorbidities in HIV-positive persons, three previous studies of HIV-positive persons have investigated this specifically as it relates to hepatitis C, 11,30 and hepatitis B and C. 31 In a sample of 182 marginally housed HIV-positive persons with comorbid hepatitis C infection, 64% self-reported having hepatitis C infection. 11 In a sample of 681 HIV-positive women with comorbid hepatitis C infection enrolled in the Women's Interagency HIV Study, 77% reported knowing their hepatitis C diagnosis.…”

“…11 In a sample of 681 HIV-positive women with comorbid hepatitis C infection enrolled in the Women's Interagency HIV Study, 77% reported knowing their hepatitis C diagnosis. 30 In a sample of 970 HIV-positive patients in clinical care, the sensitivity of self-reported hepatitis B infection was 27% (correct self-report by those who do have hepatitis B infection) and the sensitivity of self-reported hepatitis C infection was 72%. 31 Our finding of sensitivity of 66% for self-reported hepatitis C infection is in line with the results of these three studies and our finding of 63% for self-reported hepatitis B infection is considerably higher than in the one other study to date.…”

Chronic hepatitis C in the Latino population

“…Among those aware of their HCV infection, one in four had undergone liver biopsy and received treatment for HCV. In multivariate regression analyses, African American race, Latino ethnicity, poverty, and current crack/cocaine/heroin use were negatively associated with treatment referrals, whereas elevated ALT was associated with increased likelihood of referral and treatment [ 51 ].…”

Hepatitis C in African Americans

“…For instance, Cohen et al [16] showed that African American females who belong to a high-risk cohort are more likely to be unaware of their HCV status than Caucasian patients. Additionally, in this population-which has a 75% seroprevalence of HIV-black females have an odds ratio of 0.52 for being referred for HCV therapy compared with white females [16]. A similar referral bias has been reported in a predominantly African American population in inner-city Baltimore.…”