New research published in this month’s Journal of Viral Hepatitis reveals that people living with HIV have an increased risk of death if they are not tested for the hepatitis C virus (HCV).
The study, conducted by researchers in Lyon, France, examined 3,244 patients who were receiving HIV care from 1992 through 2005. Researchers found that significantly more unscreened patients had died during follow-up compared to those screened for HCV.
While researchers initially speculated that a lack of HCV screening was due to suboptimal care, this study shows that unscreened patients in the sample group typically had low CD4 counts at baseline, making screening for HCV less of a priority for their HIV care providers.
Beth Benne, RN, is HIV negative, but
the virus has impacted her life. She currently supervises a biannual HIV/AIDS awareness week as
the director of the student health center at Pierce College, a
community commuter school in Woodland Hills, California.
Woman of the Month is supported by exclusive advertising from Gilead.
Overheard in the Women's Forum
"I recently met a guy who is negative. I did tell him about my status and he decided to kiss me anyway (we didn't go further than that). But a day later, he called and said that he actually had a mouth ulcer that time when we kissed and he was very worried. Asked if he can get the virus from me that way. For that moment, I felt so insulted and yet I felt so bad. It was my first time having a contact with a "negative" guy."
