Should we start looking at the elderly for human immunodeficiency virus infections? A study of trends of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

BACKGROUND: There is limited information on the trends of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infections in India – particularly from private health-care settings. We designed the present research to estimate the prevalence of HIV, HBV, and HCV over a period of 7 years and study the factors associated with them. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study is a secondary data analysis of data from the laboratory records of 24,086 individuals who were tested over a period of 7 years (2009–2015). We estimated the proportion and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for HIV, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and HCV antibodies. RESULTS: The overall seroprevalence of HIV was 0.35% (95% CI: 0.27%, 0.44%), HBsAg was 1.65% (95% CI: 1.48%, 1.82%), and HCV was 1.73% (95% CI: 1.56%, 1.90%). The prevalence of HIV among those who were more than 70 years of age was 0.14% (95% CI: 0.04%, 0.32%). The prevalence of HBsAg was highest in those aged 30–39 years (2.27%, 95% CI: 1.74%, 2.92%) (P = 0.008). The prevalence of HIV/HBsAg co-infection was 0.019% (95% CI: 0.005%, 0.050%), HIV/HCV co-infection was 0.005% (95% CI: 0.000, 0.027%), and HBsAg/HCV co-infection was 0.059% (95% CI: 0.030%, 0.102%). We did not encounter even a single case of all the three infections. CONCLUSIONS: HIV infection is relatively high in those who were aged 50 years of more; thus, they need to be included in the National AIDS Control Programme. HIV/HBV/HCV co-infections should be regularly monitored in surveillance programs, and antiretroviral therapy officers and counselors should be trained on the management of HIV in those who are co-infected.