Prevalence and Profile of Hepatitis B Virus Infection among HIV-Infected Adults at Panzi Referral Hospital, in the Post-Conflict South Kivu Province, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

Background: Little is known about the prevalence of co-infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the post-conflict South-Kivu Province, Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Therefore, we aimed to determine such data at Panzi Referral Hospital. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 198 HIV-positive patients seen in consultation from June to 31 November 2017. Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected by interview and clinical examination. Blood sample was taken for serological analyses. The presence of HBV serological markers was determined by enzyme linked immunoassay (ELISA) tests. CD4+ T cell counts were determined for all patients. Data analysis was done using the JMP 7.1 software. Proportions were compared using a Chi-square test or Fisher test. Results: Fourteen of 198 participants (7.07%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.35 - 11.51) were HBsAg-positive. Overall, 33.33% of the subjects had been in contact with HBV and 36.87% were carriers of the immunization marker. Among co-infected patients, 28.57% had a chronic replicative viral B infection, 57.14% a chronic non-replicative infection and 14.29% were inactive carriers. No patient had an acute infection. Co-infection was higher in participants who were aged 55 and over (8.3%), men (12.90%, p = 0.0306), married (12.00%, p = 0.0063), or of Lega ethnicity (14.3%, p = 0.0100). Some clinical signs such as hepatomegaly and jaundice (p < 0.0001), fever (p = 0.0095), splenomegaly (p = 0.0007), ascites (p = 0.0173) and viral encephalitis (p ≤ 0.0001) were associated with co-infection. Severe immunosuppression (50.00%, p = 0.0110) and WHO clinical stage III/IV (10.64%; p = 0.0301) were associated with HIV/HBV co-infection. Conclusions: The relative high prevalence of HIV/HBV co-infection and chronic nature call for the need of integrating HBV screening programs into HIV routine care to reduce morbidity and mortality levels caused by HIV/HBV co-infection.