Evolution of hepatitis A virus seroprevalence among HIV-positive adults in Taiwan
Journal
PLoS ONE
Journal Volume
12
Journal Issue
10
Pages
e0186338
Date Issued
2017
Author(s)
Lee Y.-L.
Cheng C.-Y.
Li C.-W.
Yang C.-J.
Tsai M.-S.
Tang H.-J.
Lin T.-Y.
Wang N.-C.
Lee Y.-C.
Lin S.-P.
Zhang J.-Y.
Ko W.-C.
Cheng S.-H.
Lee Y.-T.
Liu C.-E.
Taiwan HIV Study Group
Abstract
Objectives: The study aimed to describe the seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus (HAV) in HIV-positive adult patients in Taiwan between 2012 and 2016 and to examine the evolution of HAV seroprevalence between 2004–2007 and 2012–2016. Methods: Clinical information and data of anti-HAV antibody results were collected from 2,860 antiretroviral-na?ve HIV-positive Taiwanese aged 18 years or older who initiated combination antiretroviral therapy at 11 hospitals around Taiwan between 2012 and 2016 (2012–2016 cohort). A multivariate logistic regression model was applied to identify independent variables associated with HAV seropositivity. Comparisons of HAV seroprevalences and associated clinical characteristics were made between this 2012–2016 cohort and a previous cohort of 1580 HIV-positive patients in 2004–2007 (2004–2007 cohort). Results: Of the 2,860 HIV-positive patients between 2012 and 2016, the overall HAV seropositivity rate was 21.2% (605/2860), which was independently associated with an older age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], per 1-year increase, 1.13; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.11–1.15) and co-infection with hepatitis B virus (AOR 1.44; 95% CI, 1.08–1.93). Residence in southern Taiwan (AOR 0.49; 95% CI, 0.34–0.72) was inversely associated with HAV seropositivity. The overall HAV seroprevalence in the 2012–2016 cohort was significantly lower than that in the 2004–2007 cohort (21.2% vs 60.9%, p<0.01). The decreases of HAV seropositivity rate were observed in nearly every age-matched group, which suggested the cohort effect on HAV seroepidemiology. However, among individuals aged 25 years or younger, the HAV seropositivity rate increased from 3.8% (2/52) in the 2004–2007 cohort to 8.5% (50/587) in the 2012–2016 cohort, with 95.4% (560/587) being MSM in this age group of the latter cohort. Conclusions: HAV seroprevalence has decreased with time among HIV-positive adults in Taiwan. The cohort effect has increased the number of young HIV-positive patients that are susceptible to HAV infection in a country without nationwide childhood vaccination program against HAV. ? 2017 Lee et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
SDGs
Other Subjects
hepatitis A antibody; hepatitis B surface antigen; hepatitis C antibody; anti human immunodeficiency virus agent; hepatitis A antibody; hepatitis A vaccine; adult; age distribution; antiretroviral therapy; Article; clinical feature; cohort analysis; comparative study; controlled study; disease predisposition; epidemic; evolution; female; geographic distribution; hepatitis A; Hepatitis A virus; hepatitis B; heterosexuality; high risk population; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; infection risk; injecting drug user; major clinical study; male; men who have sex with men; middle aged; miscellaneous named groups; mixed infection; nonhuman; retrospective study; seroepidemiology; seroprevalence; sex difference; Taiwan; trend study; virus load; virus transmission; young adult; adolescent; age; blood; hepatitis A; Hepatitis A virus; HIV Infections; immunology; multivariate analysis; statistical model; Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Anti-HIV Agents; Female; Hepatitis A; Hepatitis A Antibodies; Hepatitis A Vaccines; Hepatitis A virus; HIV Infections; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Retrospective Studies; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Taiwan; Young Adult
Publisher
Public Library of Science
Type
journal article