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Abstract
The study aim was to assess whether hepatitis C virus (HCV) was associated with painful symptoms among patients with HIV. Using data from a prospective cohort of HIV-infected adults with alcohol problems, we assessed the effects of HCV on pain that interfered with daily living and painful symptoms (muscle/joint pain, headache and peripheral neuropathy). Exploratory analyses assessed whether depressive symptoms and inflammatory cytokines mediated the relationship between HCV and pain. HCV-infected participants (n = 200) had higher odds of pain that interfered with daily living over time (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.43; 95% CI: 1.02–2.01; p = 0.04) compared to those not infected with HCV. HIV/HCV co-infected participants had higher odds of muscle or joint pain (AOR 1.45; 95% CI: 1.06–1.97; p = 0.02) and headache (AOR 1.57; 95% CI: 1.18–2.07; p<0.01). The association between HCV and peripheral neuropathy did not reach statistical significance (AOR 1.33; 95% CI: 0.96–1.85; p = 0.09). Depressive symptoms and inflammatory cytokines did not appear to mediate the relationship between HCV and pain. Adults with HIV who are also co-infected with HCV are more likely to experience pain that interfered with daily living, muscle or joint pain, and headaches compared to those not co-infected. Research is needed to explore the association between HCV infection and pain, and to determine whether HCV treatment is an effective intervention.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank Na Wang for her data management support. The authors report no institutional or commercial affiliations that might pose a conflict of interest. This study was supported by funding from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) R01-AA13216 and K24-AA015674 and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) K23-DA027367.