The past year of pandemic turmoil has made it challenging for many of us to go for annual physical check-ups and other routine doctor visits that are typically circled as must-do’s on our calendars, once or twice a year. In fact, studies have found that health care utilization has substantially dropped since 2020, with many medical offices having closed at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic – and countless people not only delaying, but actually canceling their scheduled doctor appointments in looking to avoid potentially contracting the virus in a medical setting. Unfortunately, postponing or, worse yet, missing preventive medical appointments has its own risks—especially for people/patients with chronic conditions like HIV and hepatitis B. In a new study, researchers from the University of Washington in Seattle urge that individuals with these co-existing conditions must regularly monitor their health status to avoid the development of liver cancer.
People with HIV and hepatitis B are at risk for developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is the most common type of primary liver cancer. Hepatitis B is among the leading causes of liver cancer worldwide, and people infected with both HIV and hepatitis B tend to have faster liver disease progression. Despite taking antiviral treatment, those with this co-infection should undergo regular monitoring for liver cancer, according to research presented at the virtual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections. This annual conference brings together the latest developments in the battle against HIV/AIDS and related infectious diseases.
“Our findings underscore that antiviral therapy reduces but does not eliminate the risk of HCC,” said study author Dr. H. Nina Kim of the University of Washington in Seattle during her presentation.
Kim and her colleagues evaluated risk factors for HCC among people with HIV and hepatitis B. The study included 8,354 participants from an analysis cohort of nearly 124,000 HIV-positive people. The majority (93 percent) were men, 41 were Black, and the median age was 43 years. Approximately one third reported heavy alcohol use, 22 percent had hepatitis C, and 12 percent had obesity as a health concern—all risk factors for liver disease progression. About 76 percent were taking antiretroviral treatment against hepatitis B.
Looking at the effect of hepatitis B treatment, they found that sustained hepatitis B virus suppression for a year or more reduced the risk of developing HCC by 58 percent; while suppression for four years or more reduced the risk by 66 percent.
Some study limitations include: the lack of women participants, deficient data on fatty liver disease, cirrhosis status, and hepatitis delta infection, which can sometimes occur along with hepatitis B.
“The data highlights the importance of hepatitis B virus surveillance and optimization of HBV suppression,” Kim said. “To gain maximal protective benefit from antiviral therapy for HCC prevention — sustained and ideally uninterrupted suppression of HBV may be necessary over years.”
Simply put, active monitoring of one’s liver health—along with antiviral treatment for those who need it—should be safely maintained amid the pandemic. Mask up and take the opportunity to safely: Screen. Vaccinate. Don’t Hesitate.
Learn more about the study here
Explore different ways to take care of your liver here
Learn more about COVID-19 and liver disease here
