Hospitalizations and deaths among people coinfected with HIV and HCV

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Public Health
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Coinfection with HIV and HCV presents a significant global health challenge.
• Understanding trends in coinfection hospitalization is crucial for public health planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze hospitalization trends and outcomes for HIV/HCV coinfection in Poland from 2012-2022.
• To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and refugee influx on these trends.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective, population-based study design.
• Analysis of hospitalization rates, demographics, clinical characteristics, and case fatality rates.
• Inclusion of data spanning pre-pandemic, pandemic, and refugee influx periods.

Main Results:

• Mean annual hospitalization rate was 1.33 per 10^5, decreasing significantly during the pandemic (0.51 per 10^5) compared to pre-pandemic (1.63 per 10^5).
• In-hospital case fatality rates rose in men (1.83 to 3.93) during the pandemic, but remained stable in women (1.53).
• No significant increase in hospitalizations was observed in 2022 despite the influx of Ukrainian refugees.

Conclusions:

• The COVID-19 pandemic led to a decrease in HIV/HCV coinfection hospitalizations, with a notable rise in male fatality rates.
• The influx of war refugees did not escalate the epidemiological situation of HIV/HCV coinfection in Poland during the study period.
• Continued monitoring of the HIV/HCV coinfected population in Poland is essential.