Clinical, Epidemiological and Diagnostic Aspects of Combined HIV-CHB Infection

Objective is to characterize the epidemiological and clinical-diagnostic features of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in the context of HIV coinfection in real-world clinical practice. Materials and methods . A single-center cross-sectional study was conducted at the Republican Center for AIDS and Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control in Kazan. Medical records of 117 patients with HIV infection and HBV markers who were under observation from 2021 to 2023 were analyzed. Laboratory findings and data from epidemiological investigation forms were reviewed. Categorical variables are presented as absolute values and percentages. Results and discussion . HBsAg was detected in 95 (81.20 %) patients, while 22 (18.80 %) had only anti-HBc, indicating loss of HBsAg. The majority were male (89 (76.07 %)), with an age of 45 [42; 48] years. Patients aged 40– 49 years accounted for 85/117 (72.65 %). At the time of HIV diagnosis, most patients were at stage IVА (65.72 %) or IVB (23.93 %). The median duration of clinical follow-up was 15 [10; 22] years, and median antiretroviral therapy (ART) duration was 8 [5; 12] years (one patient had not received ART). Injection drug use was the main transmission route (68 (58.12 %)). Anti-HCV antibodies were detected in 85 (72.65 %) patients, and HDV markers were found in 7 (5.98 %) cases. Conclusion . The findings highlight the need for long-term monitoring of HIV-СHB coinfected patients. Comprehensive diagnostic approaches and individualized ART regimens are recommended to reduce the risk of HBV reactivation and disease progression.