Prevalence Of Hepatitis B Infection In Hiv Positive Patients At A Tertiary Care Hospital Of North India

ABSTRACT

Introduction: In India hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection is estimated to vary between 2% and 14% in various studies. HIV negatively impacts the disease outcome of hepatitis B and HBV increases hepatic complications in HIV. Objective: To study the prevalence of HBsAg positivity in HIV infected patients attending the anti-retroviral therapy center of Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, Amritsar. Material and methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study involved the collection of the results of hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg)test of all HIV patients who were registered over a period of one year. The data was tabulated and analyzed statistically. Results: Of the 435 participants 285 (65.52%) were males and 150 (34.48%) were females, the hepatitis B surface antigen positivity rate was 3.68%. Male in the age group of 19 to 40 years and injection drug users were more susceptible. Conclusion:Analyzing this data lead to certain helpful insight that the prevalence of almost 3.68% stresses upon the need for testing for HBsAg in HIV infected patients. For prevention of hepatic complications early treatment should be initiated and those who are negative should be vaccinated.