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Isabelo B Caratao IV, Arlene Kuan
Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, Philippines
ScientificTracks Abstracts: J Hepato Gastroenterol
Introduction: In the Asia Pacific region, the Philippines has been identified as the country with the fastest growing HIV epidemic. Among people living PLHIV, viral hepatitis advances rapidly and results in more severe health problems. With the increasing incidence of HIV in the country, it is crucial to raise awareness about the co-infection of viral hepatitis in PLHIV, as it poses a significant challenge due to its complexity. Methodology: This is a retrospective study which included cases of PLHIV enrolled in two key HIV treatment hubs in Cebu Philippines from January 2012 to June 2022. Results: A total of 284 cases of PLHIV from the two centers were reviewed. Most of the cases of Hepatitis infection among PLHIV were mostly males (94.7%), single (83.1%), from Cebu City (77.1%) and unemployed (51.1%). The age group with the most cases belonged to the 31–40-year-old bracket. Among PLHIV with HBV, majority were College graduates (9.2%); those with HCV (25.7%) and those with triple infection (3.5%) were mostly High School undergraduates. Among the cases with HBV, the most prevalent risk profile was that of the MSM profile (17.3%). As for the HCV (59.9%) and triple infection (7.4%) categories, subjects were mostly persons who inject drugs (PWID). Of the 284 cases reviewed, HCV co-infection was more prevalent (68.7%) than HBV co-infection (22.9%). Conclusion: Co-infection of HIV/HCV was more prevalent than HIV/HBV in this study. Notable cases of triple infection (HIV/ HBV/HCV) were also observed. The data obtained can be used to pinpoint vulnerable populations and heavily affected areas to gain traction on a focused, assertive, and comprehensive information campaign. The psychosocial implications, economic burden and health consequences of these diseases individually and altogether, casts a heavy burden on the stricken, making this a public health concern worth revisiting. Keywords: Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis C virus, HIV, co-infection, triple infection References 1. Department of Health. A briefer on the Philippines HIV estimates 2020. 2. Department of Health Epidemiology Bureau. HIV/AIDS and ART registry of the Philippines: Summary of newly diagnosed cases. January 2022. 3. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. People coinfected with HIV and Viral Hepatitis. 2020.
Isabelo B Caratao IV, is a Gastroenterology fellow training in the Philippines. He developed a keen interest in the field of gastroenterology and hepatology, which prompted him to pursue further training in Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) in Cebu City. As a fellow, he is gaining extensive experience in the diagnosis and management of a wide range of gastrointestinal diseases. He is passionate about improving the quality of healthcare in the Philippines, especially in the field of gastroenterology, and is committed to providing compassionate and patient-centered care to his patients.
