Journal of the Formosan Medical Association (Aug 2012)
Seroprevalence of hepatitis virus infection in men who have sex with men aged 18–40 years in Taiwan
Abstract
Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at increased risk for hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections than the general population. Comparisons of the seroprevalence rates of these hepatitis viruses between HIV-positive and HIV-negative MSM are rarely performed in Taiwan. Methods: Between January 2009 and June 2010, data on the serologies for HAV, HBV, and HCV were collected from two groups of patients: HIV-negative MSM, aged 18–40 years, who sought voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) for HIV infection, and HIV-positive MSM of the same age group who sought HIV care at the National Taiwan University Hospital. Both groups of patients were also tested for syphilis. Results: During the 18-month study period, 690 HIV-negative MSM and 438 HIV-positive MSM were enrolled and tested for anti-HAV antibody, HBV surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc antibody), and anti-HCV antibody. HIV-positive MSM were older than HIV-negative MSM (30.5 ± 5.4 vs. 25.8 ± 4.7 years, p < 0.01). For HIV-positive MSM, the mean CD4 lymphocyte count was 477.6 ± 230.0 cells/μL and 46% of them had undetectable plasma HIV RNA load (< 40 copies/mL by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay). The overall seroprevalence rates of HAV, HBsAg, and HCV in HIV-positive MSM were 15.1%, 16.4%, and 5.5%, respectively, while in HIV-negative MSM, they were 7.4%, 6.2%, and 0.4%, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, age was significantly associated with seropositivity for HAV (OR [per one age group increase]: 1.96; 95% CI: 1.6–2.5), HBsAg (OR: 2.02; 95% CI: 1.6–2.6), anti-HBc (OR: 2.68; 95% CI: 2.3–3.2), anti-HCV (OR: 1.67; 95% CI: 1.0–2.7), and anti-HBs (OR: 1.25; 95% CI: 1.0–1.5). HIV infection was associated with seropositivity for HBsAg (OR: 1.73; 95% CI: 1.1–2.7), anti-HBc (OR: 2.44; 95% CI: 1.8–3.3), HCV (OR: 8.91; 95% CI: 2.5–31.4), and syphilis (OR: 11.21; 95% CI: 6.7–18.9). Conclusion: HIV-positive MSM have a higher seroprevalence rate of HBV and HCV infection than HIV-negative MSM in Taiwan. Vaccination and safe-sex counseling should be provided to prevent the transmission of hepatitis viruses among MSM who may be engaged in high-risk behaviors.
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