Hepatitis C prevalence in HIV-infected individuals: a comparison of inpatient and outpatient care

Due to the shared risk factors for viral transmission, coinfection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) is common. This study examined the seroprevalence of HCV among HIV-infected patients in inpatient and outpatient settings. A retrospective chart review of 256 HIV-infected patients was conducted in Prince George's Hospital Center (inpatients from 1 September 2011 to 1 March 2012) and Glenridge Medical Center (outpatients from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2012). The mean age of the population was 46 +/- 12 and 44 +/- 11 for inpatients and outpatients, respectively. HIV-infected men comprised 61.9% inpatients and 64.8% outpatients. The overall prevalence of HCV infection in HIV/AIDS patients was 12.5% (32/256), with a higher prevalence in the inpatient group than that in the outpatient group (24.6% vs 11.2%, p < 0.01). The percentages of drug abuse (43.8% vs 16.5%, p < 0.01) and alcoholism (25.0% and 14.3%, p < 0.05) in HCV/HIV-coinfected patients were higher than those in HIV-monoinfected patients. In addition, only 64.9% of HIV-infected and 50.0% of HCV/HIV-coinfected inpatients were followed up with outside care after discharge. To our knowledge, this study, for the first time, revealed that HCV/HIV coinfection was significantly higher in inpatients compared to outpatients. Considering the high prevalence and comorbidities associated with HCV/HIV coinfection, it is recommended that evaluation of hepatic damage, especially fibrosis, should be initiated during hospitalization as well as outpatient care.