Aim of the study

Hepatitis D virus (HDV) is a hepatotropic virus that causes acute and chronic liver disease. The aim of this study was to characterise patients with HDV infection among individuals with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), to analyse characteristics associated with the risk of acquiring HDV, and to assess whether HDV infection is a long-term mortality risk factor.

Material and methods

This observational cohort study included HIV/hepatitis B virus (HBV)-coinfected patients from two HIV centres in 2012, who were re-evaluated in 2024 to determine whether HDV infection in HIV/HBV-coinfected patients is a risk factor of mortality. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate factors associated with the risk of HDV infection and mortality.

Results

Among 65 patients, 15 exhibited positive anti-HDV antibodies (23.08%) and 9 exhibited positive HDV RNA (13.85%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified female sex (p = 0.023, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 8.79, 95% CI: 1.35-57.25), intravenous drug use (p < 0.001, aOR = 44.59, 95% CI: 8.22-241.99), and active (p = 0.009, aOR = 6.09, 95% CI: 1.57-23.65) and past HCV coinfection (p = 0.013, aOR = 20.64, 95% CI: 1.89-225.48) as significant risk factors for HDV. The presence of liver cirrhosis was the only significant risk factor of 12-year mortality (p = 0.009, aOR = 12.64, 95% CI: 1.86-85.74).

Conclusions

Routine HDV screening is recommended in HIV/HBV-coinfected individuals, especially those who inject drugs.