Current management and awareness of hepatitis coinfection in HIV care: A single-center retrospective study in Japan.

Background: Liver disease remains a significant concern for people living with HIV (PLWH), especially in those with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection. This study assessed the prevalence of viral hepatitis coinfections and evaluated the current state of hepatitis management by HIV care providers in Japan.

Methods: This single-center, retrospective, observational study analyzed data from PLWH treated with antiretroviral therapy between April 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024. Data included demographics, ART regimen, hepatitis status, and screening practices of 811 PLWH treated with antiretroviral therapy.

Results: The median age of the study population was 48 years, and 97.8 % were men. The HBV status was as follows: chronic HBV, 6.5 %; clinical remission, 34.0 %; uninfected, 30.9 %; unknown, 14.2 %. The HCV antibody positivity rate was 3.2 %. Substantial gaps in hepatitis screening and monitoring were identified. Specifically, we found inadequate rates of abdominal ultrasound examinations and HCC screening among patients with HIV and viral hepatitis coinfection. Moreover, only 71.7 % of patients chronically infected with HBV and 61.5 % with HCV underwent abdominal ultrasound examinations in the preceding 12 months-only 5.7 % and 3.8 % of the participants in these groups had had received tumor marker testing in the previous 12 months.

Conclusion: There are challenges in hepatitis and HCC screening and monitoring among patients with HIV and viral hepatitis coinfection in Japan. These findings underscore the need to improve adherence to clinical practice guidelines and implement integrated care models to enhance hepatitis management in PLWH.