Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Hepatitis B and C Co-infection and Their Correlation with CD4 Cells and Liver Enzymes in HIV Patients at a Teaching Hospital in Nigeria

Patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are adversely affected by the viral hepatitis caused by HBV and HCV. The study aims to determine the prevalence of HIV/HBV and HIV/HCV co-infections among HIV-positive individuals in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as analyze their impact on CD4 and liver enzyme levels in HIV-positive individuals despite limited data on viral hepatitis in Nigeria. A cross-sectional study involving 400 HIV-positive patients in Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital Bauchi (ATBUTH), Nigeria, utilized structured questionnaires and IBM SPSS software to collect socio-demographic data, assessing liver enzymes, CD4 levels, and HBV/HCV serological assays. The total seroprevalence of HIV-viral hepatitis co-infection among 400 study participants was 61 (15.30%). HIV-HBV, HIV-HCV, and HIV-HBV-HCV co-infections were found in 15 (3.80%), 42 (10.50%), and 4 (1.00%), respectively. Multiple regression analysis indicated patients who had a family history, practiced multiple sexual partners, blood transfusion, and CD4 count < 200 cells/µl had higher odds of HBV infection, and those who had a family history and CD4 count < 200 cells/µl (AOR (95% CI), 11.63 (1.12–120.83)) had higher odds of HCV infection, compared to their counterparts. Compared to HIV mono-infected individuals, study participants with co-infections of HIV-HBV, HIV-HCV, and HIV-HBV-HCV had comparatively higher mean liver enzyme values (ALT and AST). So also, participants who were HIV mono-infected had a higher mean CD4 level than those who were co-infected. The study reveals a high prevalence of HBV and HCV infections among HIV patients in the study area, with increased liver enzyme levels and decreased CD4 counts.