FREQUENCY OF HEPATITIS C-VIRUS CO-INFECTION IN HIV-INFECTED PATIENTS IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITALS IN LAHORE, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Background: The coinfection of Hepatitis C-Virus (HCV) in patients of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection occurs commonly owing to the same route of transmission. The prevalence of HCV/HIV coinfection in western population has an estimated number of around 5 to 10 million people. More deaths are being attributed to liver related causes than AIDS in HIV infected patients. There is not much of data available with respect to prevalence of HCV/HIV coinfection is Pakistan. Single major culprit responsible for coinfection of HIV/HCV has been identified as IV drug usage. However, Men having Sex with Men (MSM) have become another population at higher risk for HCV coinfection among HIV infected patients.

Objective: This study aims to find out the frequency of HCV co-infection in HIV-infected patients registered in Tertiary care hospitals of Lahore.

Methodology: The study was a cross-sectional analytical study which was conducted between January 1, 2023 and June 15, 2023. The patients selected for this study were the persons who reported to the 3 HIV clinics in tertiary care hospitals in Lahore

Results: The results have indicated that out of 372 HIV infected patients, 182 patients (48.9%) had HCV coinfection which is a very high percentage. Strong association has been found between HCV/HIV coinfections and IV drug usage which is consistent with earlier studies.

Conclusion: This study has indicated that there is a high frequency of HCV co-infection among HIV infected patients in Lahore. This study has also found significant variations in test results of patients reporting to different hospitals in Lahore.