Hepatitis B infection in people living with HIV who initiate antiretroviral therapy in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Setting: There is little information about the diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Zimbabwe despite recommendations that tenofovir (TDF) + lamivudine (3TC) is the most effective nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) backbone of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in those with dual infection.Objective: To determine 1) numbers screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg); 2) numbers diagnosed HBsAg-positive along with baseline characteristics; and 3) NRTI backbones used among PLHIV initiating first-line ART at Mpilo Opportunistic Infections Clinic, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, between October 2017 and April 2019.Design: This was a cross-sectional study using routinely collected data.Results: Of the 422 PLHIV initiating first-line ART (median age 34 years, IQR 25–43), 361 (85%) were screened for HBV, with 10% being HBsAg-positive. HBsAg positivity was significantly associated with anaemia (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] 2.3, 95%CI 1.1–4.7) and elevated ala-nine transaminase levels (aPR 2.9, 95%CI 1.5–5.8). Of 38 PLHIV who were diagnosed HBsAg-positive, 30 (79%) were started on ART based on tenofovir (TDF) and lamivudine (3TC), seven were given abacavir (ABC) + 3TC-based ART and one was given zido vudine (ZDV) + 3TC-based ART.Conclusion: In PLHIV, HBV screening worked well, the prevalence of HIV-HBV co-infection was high and most patients received appropriate treatment for both conditions. Recommendations to improve screening, diagnosis and treatment of HIV-HBV co-infection are discussed.