1. Alcohol Consumption and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) RNA Levels in HIV/HCV Coinfected Patients.
- Author
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Fuster D, Nunes D, Cheng DM, Saitz R, and Samet JH
- Subjects
- Adult, Cohort Studies, Female, Hepatitis C epidemiology, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Risk Factors, Alcohol Drinking adverse effects, HIV Infections drug therapy, HIV Infections epidemiology, HIV Infections virology, Hepacivirus genetics, Hepatitis C virology, RNA, Viral, Viral Load
- Abstract
Background: The impact of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA levels on the evolution of chronic HCV infection-related liver damage is controversial. Heavy alcohol use is believed to have a deleterious impact on the course of HCV disease, but current knowledge about the possible effect of alcohol use on HCV RNA levels in HIV/HCV coinfected patients is limited., Methods: We examined 107 HIV/HCV-infected individuals with current or past unhealthy alcohol use to assess the association between alcohol consumption (any drinking vs. abstinent) and HCV RNA levels., Results: Participants were 75% male, with a mean age of 43 years, and 63% were on antiretroviral therapy. Mean (SD) log HIV RNA was 3.1 (1.4) and mean (SD) log HCV RNA was 6.1 (0.8). Past-month alcohol use was present in 38% of participants. In a multivariable linear regression analysis we found no significant differences in mean log HCV RNA levels between those reporting alcohol use and those who were abstinent [β (95%CI): -0.04 (-0.34, 0.26), p = 0.79)]. There was no significant association between any heavy drinking day and HCV RNA level (0.07, 95% CI: (-0.24, 0.38), p = 0.66)., Conclusions: We did not detect significant associations between alcohol use and HCV RNA levels among HIV/HCV coinfected patients.
- Published
- 2021
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