The global and regional prevalence of hepatitis C and B co-infections among prisoners living with HIV: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are common among individuals with human immune deficiency virus (HIV) infection worldwide. In this study, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis of the published literature to estimate the global and regional prevalence of HCV, HBV and HIV coinfections among HIV-positive prisoners. Methods We searched PubMed via MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Library, SCOPUS, and Web of science (ISI) to identify studies that reported the prevalence of HBV and HCV among prisoners living with HIV. We used an eight-item checklist for critically appraisal studies of prevalence/incidence of a health problem to assess the quality of publications in the included 48 cross-sectional and 4 cohort studies. We used random-effect models and meta-regression for the meta-analysis of the results of the included studies. Results The number of the included studies were 50 for HCV-HIV, and 23 for HBV-HIV co-infections. The pooled prevalence rates of the coinfections were 12% [95% confidence interval (CI) 9.0–16.0] for HBV-HIV and 62% (95% CI 53.0–71.0) for HCV-HIV. Among HIV-positive prisoners who reported drug injection, the prevalence of HBV increased to 15% (95% CI 5.0–23.0), and the HCV prevalence increased to 78% (95% CI 51.0–100). The prevalence of HBV-HIV coinfection among prisoners ranged from 3% in the East Mediterranean region to 27% in the American region. Also, the prevalence of HCV-HIV coinfections among prisoners ranged from 6% in Europe to 98% in the East Mediterranean regions. Conclusions Our findings suggested that the high prevalence of HBV and HCV co-infection among HIV-positive prisoners, particularly among those with a history of drug injection, varies significantly across the globe. The results of Meta-regression analysis showed a sliding increase in the prevalence of the studied co-infections among prisoners over the past decades, rising a call for better screening and treatment programs targeting this high-risk population. To prevent the above coinfections among prisoners, aimed public health services (e.g. harm reduction via access to clean needles), human rights, equity, and ethics are to be seriously delivered or practiced in prisons. Protocol registration number: CRD42018115707 (in the PROSPERO international). Graphic abstract

Prevalence of Hepatitis D Virus among People Attending the Antiretroviral Clinic and the Effect on the Liver Function Enzymes

“…This result is within the range of result reported by Opaleye et al [17] with a 5.6% prevalence of the HDV antigen among HIV/HBV co-infected individuals but slightly lower than the global prevalence of 7.4% recorded from the findings of Chen et al [18]. This could be due to the higher global prevalence of HIV/HBV as reported by Ahmadi Gharaei et al [15], since the hepatitis B surface antigen(HbsAg) is required for the defective HDV to replicate as discovered by Coghill et al [1].…”

“…Also the indiscriminate blood transfusion in some sub standard hospitals which do not carry out proper blood screening before transfusion could be responsible for the increase in the co-infection of the viruses since they are both transmitted through body fluids. The global prevalence of the co-infection of HIV/HBV as recorded by Ahmadi Gharaei et al [15] was 7.6% which was higher than that reported in this study. This may be attributed to homosexual life style permissible in many countries globally but not permitted in Nigeria and transgender women which is on the increase globally, since they both increases the spread of both HIV and HBV as reported by Adeyemi et al [16].…”

The forgotten people: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection as a priority for the inclusion health agenda

“…Multi-morbidity is common, for example, incarcerated individuals with HBV have high rates of HIV, HCV and /or TB co-infection ( Ahmadi Gharaei et al, 2021 ; do Nascimento et al, 2020 ; La Torre et al, 2007 ), and of substance use and severe mental illness ( Kamarulzaman et al, 2016 ; Fazel and Danesh, 2002 ). Non-communicable diseases are also prevalent among inclusion health populations ( Tweed et al, 2021 ) for example, PEH have a three-fold elevated risk of cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular mortality compared to non-homeless individuals ( Table 2 ; Al Shakarchi et al, 2020 ).…”

Factors Associated with HBsAg Seropositivity among Pregnant Women Receiving Antenatal Care at 10 Community Health Centers in Freetown, Sierra Leone: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…In fact, Central Freetown is densely populated and represents the hub of economic activity of the city, with limited healthcare access and poor housing conditions. Dwelling in crowded urban areas with a high prevalence of risky behaviors such as injection drug use and limited access to healthcare have been identified as major determinants of HBV infection in both developed and resource-limited regions [28,29]. Further research is needed to investigate the factors of HBV chronic carriage in this specific area of Freetown.…”