Research news in clincal context.

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) co-infection is known to accelerate disease progression in people with chronic hepatitis B. This case-control study used real-world insurance claims data from 2011 to 2014 to characterise the healthcare cost of HDV in USA. Nearly 3000 cases with HDV and Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) were matched by sociodemographic characteristics and comorbidities to HBV-only controls. Cases had higher rates of cirrhosis and hepatic decompensation and significantly more healthcare claims and annual healthcare costs. People with HDV also had higher prevalence of substance abuse and higher rates of hepatitis C and STIs. Excess disease burden warrants improved control strategies targeting vulnerable populations at risk of dual HBV and HDV infection. Elsaid MI, Li Y, John T, et al Economic and healthcare burdens of hepatitis delta: a study of commercially insured adults in the United States. Hepatology 2019; doi:10.1002/hep.31055. This systematic review estimated the population attributable fraction of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) seropositivity to HIV acquisition. Globally, of the 1.4 million sexually-acquired HIV infections that occurred in individuals aged 15–49 years in 2016, nearly a third (30%) were attributable to HSV-2. The effect of HSV-2 was prominent in the African region (37%), women (35%) …