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Prevalence and Factors Associated With Liver Fibrosis Among Adult HIV-Infected Patients Attending Urban and Rural Care Clinics in Uganda.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

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Authors

Kirk, Gregory D 
Aizire, Jim 
Benson, Eve-Marie 
Karabarinde, Alex 

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Liver fibrosis is common among HIV-infected patients. Risk factors vary by location. Understanding this variation may inform prevention strategies. We compared the prevalence and correlates of liver fibrosis among HIV-infected patients attending care clinics in Uganda. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study involving 2030 HIV-infected patients attending care clinics in urban and rural Uganda. Liver fibrosis was defined as liver stiffness measurement (LSM) >7.1 KPa. Proportions and correlates of liver fibrosis were assessed and compared using logistic regression stratified by gender and site. RESULTS: Prevalence of liver fibrosis was higher among participants in the rural clinic (15% vs 11%; P = .017). History of tobacco use (urban P = .022; rural P = .035) and serologic evidence of hepatitis C infection (HCV; urban P = .028; rural P = .03) was associated with liver fibrosis in all men. Elevated liver transaminases (urban P = .002; rural P = .028) and increasing age (urban P = .008; rural P = .052) were risk factors among all women. Tobacco use among women was only a risk factor in those attending the rural clinic (P = .003), and detectable HIV viral load (P = .002) for men in the urban clinic. CONCLUSIONS: Liver fibrosis is prevalent among HIV-infected persons in Uganda. HIV viral suppression and avoiding tobacco may be strategies to prevent liver fibrosis and cancer risk.

Description

Keywords

ART era, Fibroscan, HIV/AIDS, Sub-Saharan Africa, liver fibrosis

Journal Title

Open Forum Infect Dis

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2328-8957
2328-8957

Volume Title

7

Publisher

Oxford University Press (OUP)

Rights

All rights reserved
Sponsorship
Wellcome Trust (107742/Z/15/Z)