(RxWiki News) Many people who have HIV may not receive the hepatitis B vaccine, according to a new study.
Although those with HIV face a raised risk of hepatitis B infection, more than a third of these patients may not receive the vaccine, this new study found. In fact, deaths related to liver disease accounted for the second largest portion of deaths among HIV patients — second only to AIDS.
Hepatitis B is a potentially serious viral liver infection. It is treatable, but it is also preventable through the hepatitis B vaccine. HIV is a viral infection that damages the immune system and can lead to AIDS. There is currently no cure for HIV, although there are medications to slow the progression of the infection.
The authors of this study found that many patients with HIV were not receiving the hepatitis B vaccine by looking at a nationally representative sample of more than 18,000 adults with HIV from 2009 to 2012.
These researchers called for increased efforts to eliminate hepatitis B among patients with HIV. Ask your health care provider which vaccinations you should receive.
This study was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Information on study funding sources and potential conflicts of interest was not available at the time of publication.
