Michael Carter
Published: 06 May 2012
Co-infection with hepatitis C increases the risk of death for patients with AIDS by 50%, according to the results of a large study published in the online edition of Clinical Infectious Diseases. A fifth of these deaths were attributable to liver-related causes, five times the rate seen in people with AIDS who were not co-infected.
The investigators also found that a third of co-infected patients were unaware of their hepatitis C infection.
“The negative impact of liver disease on survival emphasises the need for patients with AIDS to be aware of their HCV [hepatitis C virus] status so that they can fully participate in their health care and risk reduction,” comment the authors.“Heightened HCV awareness may increase the proportion of patients seeking treatment and achieving a SVR [sustained virological response].”
Few deaths in HIV-positive people were attributable to liver disease in the period before effective antiretroviral treatment became available. However, large numbers of people with HIV are co-infected with hepatitis C virus and liver disease caused by this infection is now an increasingly important cause of death among these co-infected people.
A meta-analysis of studies has shown that coinfection increases the risk of death by around 35% in people with HIV and hepatitis C. Nevertheless, it remains unclear if hepatitis C increases the risk of death for patients who have progressed to AIDS and who continue to have an elevated risk of death due to HIV-related causes. 35,000 people were diagnosed with AIDS in 2009 in the United States alone, so this remains a pressing question even for developed countries, due to high rates of late diagnosis and poor access to care for marginalised populations....
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The investigators also found that a third of co-infected patients were unaware of their hepatitis C infection.
“The negative impact of liver disease on survival emphasises the need for patients with AIDS to be aware of their HCV [hepatitis C virus] status so that they can fully participate in their health care and risk reduction,” comment the authors.“Heightened HCV awareness may increase the proportion of patients seeking treatment and achieving a SVR [sustained virological response].”
Few deaths in HIV-positive people were attributable to liver disease in the period before effective antiretroviral treatment became available. However, large numbers of people with HIV are co-infected with hepatitis C virus and liver disease caused by this infection is now an increasingly important cause of death among these co-infected people.
A meta-analysis of studies has shown that coinfection increases the risk of death by around 35% in people with HIV and hepatitis C. Nevertheless, it remains unclear if hepatitis C increases the risk of death for patients who have progressed to AIDS and who continue to have an elevated risk of death due to HIV-related causes. 35,000 people were diagnosed with AIDS in 2009 in the United States alone, so this remains a pressing question even for developed countries, due to high rates of late diagnosis and poor access to care for marginalised populations....
Continue Reading....
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