Impact of hepatitis B and C co-infection on health-related quality of life in HIV positive individuals

Purpose Concurrent infection with HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) often occurs due to the commonality in risk factors for acquisition. Few studies have examined the effect of co-infection on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in HIV positive individuals. Methods Ontario HIV Treatment Network Cohort Study (OCS) participants who completed an annual interviewer-administered questionnaire on up to three occasions were included. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to assess the impact of HBV and HCV co-infection on physical and mental HRQOL component summary scores (range 0–100) as measured by the Medical Outcomes SF-36 health survey. Results As of March 2010, 1,223 participants had completed the questionnaire; 964 were HIV mono-infected, 128 were HIV–HBV co-infected, 112 were HIV–HCV co-infected, and 19 were HIV–HBV–HCV tri-infected. Eighty percent were male, median age 46 (IQR 40–53) years, 61 % Caucasian, median CD4 count 464 (IQR 319–636) cells/mm3, and 74 % had undetectable HIV viremia. Physical HRQOL was lower in HIV–HBV and HIV–HCV co-infected individuals (49.4 (IQR 42.0–53.9) and 48.1 (IQR 36.9–52.8) vs. 51.5 (IQR 45.0–55.4); p = 0.01 and