Abstract:Objective To investigate the epidemic characteristics and factors influencing mortality in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV)-coinfected patients in heilongjiang region. Methods The clinical data of 712 HIV-infected patients attending our hospital from January 2019 to December 2023 were analyzed retrospectively. The HCV infections were detected by ELISA, and epidemic characteristics of HIV/HCV co-infected patients were analyzed . Co-infected patients (n=116) were classified into survival group (n=90) and death group (n=26) according to the follow-up results, and risk factors for the mortality of HIV/HCV co-infected patients were identified. Results The prevalence of HIV/HCV co-infection was 16.29%, and the prevalence was the highest in 30-50 age group, accounting for 25.47%. There was no significant difference in co-infection rates by gender and marital status (P>0.05). The co-infection rate was the highest among farmers (26.85%) by occupation and among intravenous drug users (61.90%) by route of infection. No statistical difference was found in gender, marital status, and occupational status between survival group and death group (P>0.05), whereas statistical difference was found in age at diagnosis of HIV infection, route of infection, antiretroviral treatment, percentage of CD4+T lymphocytes, and interval between diagnosis and initiation of treatment between two groups (P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis denoted that age at diagnosis of HIV infection (OR=1.827, 95% CI: 1.263-2.722), route of infection (OR=1.796, 95% CI: 1.248-2.503), antiretroviral treatment (OR=1.724, 95% CI: 1.202-2.367), percentage of CD4+T lymphocytes (OR=2.536, 95% CI: 1.776-3.739), and the time interval between diagnosis and initiation of treatment (OR=1.953, 95% CI: 1.431-2.952) were all associated with the risk of mortality in co-infected patients (P<0.05). Conclusion The overall prevalence of HIV/HCV co-infection is 16.29% in heilongjiang region . In order to reduce the mortality rate of superinfection , we should focus on patients who are ≥ 40 years old, intravenous drug use , no antiviral therapy , low CD4+ T lymphocyte levels for the first time , and have a long interval between diagnosis and initiation of treatment .