Long-term hepatitis B and liver outcomes among adults taking tenofovir-containing antiretroviral therapy for HBV/HIV coinfection in Zambia.

BACKGROUND: Long-term outcomes of tenofovir-containing antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HBV/HIV coinfection were evaluated in Zambia. METHODS: A prospective cohort of adults with HIV and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positivity was enrolled at ART (included tenofovir DF + lamivudine) initiation. On therapy, we ascertained HBV viral load (VL) non-suppression, ALT elevation, serologic end-points, progression of liver fibrosis, based on elastography, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence. We also described a subgroup (low HBV VL and no/minimal fibrosis at baseline) that, under current international guidelines, would not have been treated in the absence of their HIV infection. RESULTS: Among 289 participants, at ART start, median age was 34 years, 40·1% were women, median CD4 count was 191 cells/mm3, 44·2% were hepatitis B e antigen-positive, and 28·4% had liver fibrosis/cirrhosis. Over median 5.91 years of ART, 13·6% developed HBV viral non-suppression, which was associated with advanced HIV disease. ALT elevation on ART was linked with HBV VL non-suppression. Regression of fibrosis and cirrhosis were common, progression to cirrhosis was absent, and no cases of HCC were ascertained. HBsAg seroclearance was 9·4% at 2 and 15·4% at 5 years, with higher rates among patients with low baseline HBV replication markers. DISCUSSION: Reassuring long-term liver outcomes were ascertained during tenofovir-based ART for HBV/HIV coinfection in Zambia. Higher than expected HBsAg seroclearance during ART underscores the need to include people with HIV in HBV cure research.

Sexual Behaviour and STI Incidence in Sexually Active MSM Living With HIV in Times of COVID-19.

Despite decreased numbers of sexual partners, the COVID-19 pandemic had limited impact on the prevalence of attending private sex parties, traveling for sex within Switzerland, and practicing chemsex in men with HIV who have sex with men. COVID-19 risk perception was low, and STI-diagnosis incidence rates remained stable over time.

Hepatitis B viral replication markers and hepatic fibrosis in untreated chronic hepatitis B virus infection with and without HIV coinfection in Zambia.

BACKGROUND: To inform novel therapies, a more nuanced understanding of HIV's impact on hepatitis B virus (HBV) natural history is needed, particularly in high burden countries. METHODS: In Lusaka, Zambia, we compared prospectively recruited adults (18+ years) with chronic HBV infection, with and without HIV. We excluded those with prior antiviral treatment experience or HBV diagnosis due to clinical suspicion (rather than routine testing). We assessed HBV DNA levels, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), CD4 + (if HIV coinfection), and liver disease (transient elastography, serum alanine aminotransferase). In multivariable analyses, we evaluated the association of HIV overall and by level of CD4 + count on these markers. RESULTS: Among 713 adults analyzed, median age was 33 years, 63% were male, and 433 had HBV/HIV coinfection. Median CD4 + count was 200 cells/µl. HBV DNA was greater than 2000 IU/ml for 311 (51.0%) and 227 (32.5%) were HBeAg-positive. 15.5% had advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis. HIV coinfection was associated with five-fold increased HBV DNA levels [adjusted geometric mean ratio, 5.78; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.29-14.62] and two times the odds of HBeAg-positivity (adjusted odds ratio, 2.54; 95% CI, 1.59-4.08). These associations were significant only at CD4 + counts 100-350 and <100 cells/µl. HIV was not associated with markers of fibrosis or ALT. DISCUSSION: HIV's impact on HBV natural history likely depends on the degree and duration of immune suppression. There is strong rationale to monitor HBV DNA in people with HBV/HIV coinfection and immune suppression. A better understanding is needed of mechanisms of increased liver-related mortality in people with HBV/HIV coinfection.

Triggers of Change in Sexual Behavior Among People With HIV: The Swiss U U Statement and COVID-19 Compared.

We assessed changes in sexual behavior among people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) over 20 years. Condom use with stable partners steadily declined from over 90 to 29 since the Swiss U U statement, with similar trajectories between men who have sex with men (MSM) and heterosexuals. Occasional partnership remained higher among MSM compared to heterosexuals even during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) social distancing.

Performance of Machine Learning Classifiers in Classifying Stunting among Under-Five Children in Zambia.

Stunting is a global public health issue. We sought to train and evaluate machine learning (ML) classification algorithms on the Zambia Demographic Health Survey (ZDHS) dataset to predict stunting among children under the age of five in Zambia. We applied Logistic regression (LR), Random Forest (RF), SV classification (SVC), XG Boost (XgB) and Naïve Bayes (NB) algorithms to predict the probability of stunting among children under five years of age, on the 2018 ZDHS dataset. We calibrated predicted probabilities and plotted the calibration curves to compare model performance. We computed accuracy, recall, precision and F1 for each machine learning algorithm. About 2327 (34.2%) children were stunted. Thirteen of fifty-eight features were selected for inclusion in the model using random forest. Calibrating the predicted probabilities improved the performance of machine learning algorithms when evaluated using calibration curves. RF was the most accurate algorithm, with an accuracy score of 79% in the testing and 61.6% in the training data while Naïve Bayesian was the worst performing algorithm for predicting stunting among children under five in Zambia using the 2018 ZDHS dataset. ML models aids quick diagnosis of stunting and the timely development of interventions aimed at preventing stunting.

COVID-19 Severity and COVID-19-Associated Deaths Among Hospitalized Patients with HIV Infection - Zambia, March-December 2020.

The effect of HIV infection on COVID-19 outcomes is unclear. Studies in South Africa (1) and the United Kingdom (2) found an independent association between HIV infection and COVID-19 mortality; however, other studies have not found an association between poor COVID-19 outcomes and either HIV status among hospitalized patients (3-5) or HIV-associated factors such as CD4 count, viral load, or type of antiretroviral therapy (ART) (6). The effect of HIV infection on COVID-19 outcomes remains an urgent question in sub-Saharan Africa, where many countries are experiencing dual HIV and COVID-19 epidemics, and capacity to treat severe COVID-19 is limited. Using data from patients with probable or confirmed COVID-19 admitted to specialized treatment centers during March-December 2020 in Zambia, the Zambian Ministry of Health and CDC assessed the relationship between HIV infection and severe COVID-19 and COVID-19-associated death. Among 443 patients included in the study, 122 (28%) were HIV-positive, and of these, 91 (89%) were receiving ART at the time of hospitalization. HIV status alone was not significantly associated with severe COVID-19 at admission or during hospitalization or with COVID-19-associated death. However, among HIV-positive persons, those with severe HIV disease were more likely to develop severe COVID-19 and were at increased risk for COVID-19-associated death. Ensuring that persons maintain HIV disease control, including maintaining ART continuity and adherence, achieving viral suppression, and addressing and managing underlying medical conditions, could help reduce COVID-19-associated morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa.

Screening test accuracy to improve detection of precancerous lesions of the cervix in women living with HIV: a study protocol.

INTRODUCTION: The simplest and cheapest method for cervical cancer screening is visual inspection after application of acetic acid (VIA). However, this method has limitations for correctly identifying precancerous cervical lesions (sensitivity) and women free from these lesions (specificity). We will assess alternative screening methods that could improve sensitivity and specificity in women living with humanimmunodeficiency virus (WLHIV) in Southern Africa. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will conduct a paired, prospective, screening test accuracy study among consecutive, eligible women aged 18-65 years receiving treatment for HIV/AIDS at Kanyama Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia. We will assess a portable magnification device (Gynocular, Gynius Plus AB, Sweden) based on the Swede score assessment of the cervix, test for high-risk subtypes of human papillomavirus (HR-HPV, GeneXpert, Cepheid, USA) and VIA. All study participants will receive all three tests and the reference standard at baseline and at six-month follow-up. The reference standard is histological assessment of two to four biopsies of the transformation zone. The primary histological endpoint is cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade two and above (CIN2+). Women who are VIA-positive or have histologically confirmed CIN2+ lesions will be treated as per national guidelines. We plan to enrol 450 women. Primary outcome measures for test accuracy include sensitivity and specificity of each stand-alone test. In the secondary analyses, we will evaluate the combination of tests. Pre-planned additional studies include use of cervigrams to test an automated visual assessment tool using image pattern recognition, cost-analysis and associations with trichomoniasis. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval was obtained from the University of Zambia Biomedical Research Ethics Committee, Zambian National Health Regulatory Authority, Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority, Swissethics and the International Agency for Research on Cancer Ethics Committee. Results of the study will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03931083; Pre-results.