Prevalence of Hepatitis B Co-infection in HIV Patients and their Demographic Parameters in Patients, attending Tertiary Care ART Centre, Jhalawar, Rajasthan, India: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Introduction: The number of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-infected patients has been progressively rising in India. The Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) shares a common route of transmission with HIV, leading to a high likelihood of co-infection. This association has been extensively studied in the Western world, revealing an increasing prevalence of HBV and HIV co-infection. While individual studies estimating the prevalence of HBV or HIV are abundant, studies specifically focusing on HBV and HIV co-infections are not as common, especially in Rajasthan, India. Aim: To analyse the prevalence of HBV in HIV-infected patients in a semiurban area, and also to compare their demographic variables among patients attending a tertiary care Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) centre. Materials and Methods: A retrospective hospital-based study was conducted in which the data of 153 patients who visited the ART centre in Jhalawar, Rajasthan, India from July 2022 to July 2023 was analysed. All HIV patients were tested for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) using rapid detection methods and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Demographic variables such as age and sex were considered, and their impact was recorded. Statistical analysis was performed on various demographic variables and compared using the Chi-square test. Results: The study revealed that HBV infection was common among HIV patients residing in Jhalawar, an eastern part of Rajasthan, India with a prevalence of 7.8%, which was comparable to other districts in Rajasthan and India. Out of the 153 patients, a total of 12 were suffering from HBV and HIV co-infection, with seven males (58.33%) being predominantly affected compared to five females (41.67%). The age group of 18-30 years had the highest number of patients, with seven individuals (58.33%), of which 4 (57.14%) were males and 3 (42.86%) were females. However, statistical significance was not achieved when comparing age and sex parameters affecting HBV and HIV co-infected patients. Conclusion: All HIV patients, especially young males, need to be regularly screened for HBV co-infection, as the risk of acquiring both infections together is high due to common routes of transmission. Additionally, dual seropositivity increases mortality and morbidity. The high prevalence of HBV-HIV co-infections in this geographical area necessitates detailed study to further compare other prevailing risk factors in the community.

Keywords

• acquired immunodeficiency syndrome co-infection
• hepatitis b prevalence
• retroviral transmission
• seropositivity