HCV/HIV coinfected Egyptian patients: a cross-sectional study of their main characteristics and barriers to HCV treatment initiation

Background This study investigates different barriers preventing a cohort of Egyptian HIV/HCV coinfected patients from accessing HCV treatment, despite being available and free of charge, aiming to improve the long-term outcomes of coinfected patients and decreasing their liver-related morbidity and mortality. Methods This study included HIV patients who were referred to Kasr Alainy Viral Hepatitis Center to receive HCV treatment and who had to continue pretreatment assessment in order to receive direct acting antiviral agents free of charge. Patients who did not attend within 90 d were questioned via a telephone interview. Questions addressed sociodemographic status, HIV status and the main barriers to accessing healthcare. Results Overall, 474 HIV/HCV coinfected patients were eligible for HCV treatment and 223 (47.1%) patients did not complete work-up for HCV treatment. Fear of community stigma concerning HIV/HCV was the most important barrier to compliance with treatment (73.3%), followed by lack of a supportive work environment and employment opportunities (51.5%), whereas 39.3% stopped follow-up due to the lack of integrated services in the healthcare facility. Conclusions Managing HCV in HCV/HIV coinfected patients still represents a major challenge, not only for healthcare providers, but also at a community level, to improve community awareness and manage the major obstacle facing those patients regarding community stigma.