Janelle Small
Clinical posts from members and guests of the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM) from various international medical and scientific conferences on HIV, AIDS, viral hepatitis, and sexual health.
Australian HIV/ Hepatitis C Co-infected Patients Fall Behind HIV Mono-infected Patients in move towards Early HIV Treatment Initiation
Presented by Clara Brown.
As we are aware there are people living with HIV who are also co-infected with Hepatitis C. In Australia approximately 1 in 8 people living with HIV are also co-infected with HCV.
Clara discussed how there is a disparity between those that are mono- infected and those that are co-infected and the number of those that have initiated early administration of ARV's for HIV. The rates of co-infected initiating or are on ARV's are much lower, despite the change in recommendations of early initiation of ARV's for HIV.
There are significant unmet needs for those that are co-infected with HCV. Often this minority population may have chaotic lives, not engage in health services, have financial difficulties, and may have difficulty with medication compliance. Clara discussed issues surrounding the need for wider Alcohol and Other Drugs services, Primary Care services, Allied Health services, as well as the ongoing issues surrounding stigma.
It is hoped that we can help this minority of a minority group improve their health outcomes and quality of life.