The Prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Coinfection Among Patients Newly Diagnosed With Chronic Hepatitis B or C in Denmark: A Nationwide Cohort Study

BACKGROUND: Early identification of patients with chronic viral hepatitis coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is essential for optimal care. The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of HIV coinfection among patients newly diagnosed with chronic viral hepatitis, HIV testing prevalence, and identify factors associated with coinfection. METHODS: Patients with chronic viral hepatitis newly enrolled in The Danish Database for Hepatitis B and C between 2002 and 2015 were identified. The HIV coinfection prevalence was calculated, and risk factors associated with HIV coinfection were estimated by logistic regression. RESULTS: In total, 8490 patients were included: 3091 had chronic hepatitis B (CHB), 5305 had chronic hepatitis C (CHC), and 94 had CHB and CHC. The prevalence of HIV coinfection was 4.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.0–4.9) and was higher among CHC and CHB-CHC patients than CHB patients with a prevalence of 5.3% (95% CI, 4.7–5.9), 6.4% (95% CI, 2.4–13.4), and 2.9 (95% CI, 2.3–3.5), respectively (P < .0001). The HIV testing prevalence increased from 65% to 88% between 2002 and 2014 concurrently with a decrease in the HIV coinfection prevalence from 7.8% (95% CI, 5.5–10.7) to 1.6% (95% CI, 0.7–3.2). Age 35–50 years, male sex, and sexual route of viral hepatitis transmission were associated with HIV coinfection with odds ratios of 4.42 (95% CI, 1.40–13.94), 2.21 (95% CI, 1.74–2.81), and 8.81 (95% CI, 6.30–12.33), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of HIV coinfection among patients with newly diagnosed chronic viral hepatitis decreased concurrently with an increase in HIV testing prevalence.