Elevated coffee consumption is associated with a lower risk of elevated liver fibrosis biomarkers in patients treated for chronic hepatitis B (ANRS CO22 Hepather cohort).

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Patients chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) are at high risk of liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer, despite recent therapeutic advances. It is therefore crucial to find non-pharmaceutical options for liver fibrosis prevention in this population. Using cross-sectional data from the ANRS CO22 Hepather cohort, we aimed to identify socio-demographic and modifiable risk factors for significant fibrosis in chronic HBV patients. METHODS: Logistic regression or Firth's penalized maximum likelihood logistic regression (according to outcome prevalence) multivariable models were used to test for associations between explanatory variables and significant fibrosis, as assessed by three non-invasive markers: aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI), FIB-4, and gamma glutamyltransferase to platelet ratio (GPR). Analyses were stratified by HBV treatment status. RESULTS: The study population comprised 2065 untreated and 1727 treated chronic HBV patients. Elevated coffee consumption was consistently associated with a lower risk of elevated fibrosis biomarkers in all three treated-participant models, suggesting a dose-response relationship (adjusted odds ratios for ≥3 cups/day versus 0 cups/day: 0.16, 0.35 and 0.62, p ≤ 0.002, according to APRI, FIB-4 and GPR, respectively). Other modifiable risk factors included tobacco and alcohol use. CONCLUSION: Elevated coffee consumption was consistently associated with a lower risk of significant liver fibrosis, as assessed by three non-invasive markers in treated chronic HBV patients. This result can be immediately used in real-world situations, as increasing coffee consumption may be beneficial for patients at risk of advanced liver disease.

Coffee Intake and Neurocognitive Performance in HIV/HCV Coinfected Patients (ANRS CO13 HEPAVIH).

Coffee is one of the most consumed beverages worldwide. Previous research has demonstrated its neuroprotective effects in the elderly. People coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) experience an accelerated aging process and cognitive impairment, which significantly impair quality of life and may affect disease-related dimensions such as treatment adherence. This study aimed to analyse the relationship between regular coffee intake and neurocognitive performance (NCP) in HIV-HCV coinfected people. We used data from 139 coinfected patients who participated in both the ANRS CO13 HEPAVIH cohort and the HEPAVIH-Psy cross-sectional survey. Linear regression models adjusting for potential sociodemographic (age, gender, educational level), clinical (liver disease status, ongoing HCV treatment, HIV viral load, major depressive disorder) and socio-behavioural (cannabis use) correlates of NCP were used. Our results showed significant, positive associations between elevated coffee intake (ECI) (three or more cups of coffee per day) and NCP in verbal fluency, psychomotor speed (coding) and executive functioning. ECI might therefore preserve neurocognitive functioning in people living with HIV and HCV.

Life after hepatitis C cure in HIV-infected people who inject drugs and men who have sex with men treated with direct-acting antivirals in France: Health perceptions and experiences from qualitative and quantitative findings (ANRS CO13 HEPAVIH).

There remains a substantial gap in our understandings of the life experiences of patients following HCV cure among HIV-HCV-co-infected people who inject drugs (PWID) and men who have sex with men (MSM), two key populations targeted for HCV elimination. We described the experiences and perspectives of HIV-positive PWID and MSM, HCV-cured following treatment with direct-acting antivirals (DAA). We used an exploratory sequential mixed approach using both qualitative data (semi-structured interviews with 27 PWID and 20 MSM) and quantitative data (self-administered questionnaires with 89 PWID) via the prospective ANRS CO13 HEPAVIH cohort. PWID reported improvements in physical health-related quality of life (HRQL) and self-reported symptoms following treatment, but no significant change in mental HRQL. During interviews, several MSM, more recently diagnosed with HCV, expressed less concern regarding HCV than HIV infection and interpreted improvements in their overall well-being after HCV cure to be more related to a closer connection with healthcare providers than with viral elimination. By contrast, PWID, particularly those previously exposed to interferon-based treatments, described major improvements in their physical HRQL. Both MSM and PWID reported improvements in cognitive or psychological wellbeing, and a majority of them reported some degree of concern over potential HCV reinfection. To conclude, though health benefits of HCV cure concern both groups, HIV-infected PWID and MSM may have different representations and experiences following DAA treatment, related to their history with HCV. They are thus likely to benefit from holistic, post-treatment follow-up care that is responsive to their evolving health and social contexts.