Global Prevalence of Hepatitis G Virus (HGV) Infection among HIV-Positive Patients and the Impact of HGV on HIV Viral Load and CD4 Cell Count: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: The present study was designed to assess the global prevalence of HGV/HIV coinfection and the impact of HGV on HIV viral load and CD4 cell count.
Methods: A literature search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, ProQuest, Cochrane, and Global Index Medicus (GIM) up to January 2026. Two researchers independently assessed eligibility and extracted the data. The I2 statistic and Cochran's Q test were used to assess heterogeneity. To find potential causes of heterogeneity, subgroup analyses were carried out. The funnel plot and Egger’s tests were used to assess publication bias.
Results: A total of 86 studies with 19050 HIV-positive published from 1997 to 2023 and covering 36 different countries were included for further analysis. The overall prevalence of HGV among HIV-positive patients was 25.3% (95% CI 23.6–27%). The prevalence of HIV/HGV coinfection in different continents was as follows: 26.5% in Africa, 21.9% in Asia, 26.7% in Europe, 24.6% in North America, and 25.1% in South America. The overall mean of CD4 was significantly different between HGV-positive and HGV-negative patients (p =0.004), while the overall mean of HIV viral load was not significantly different between HGV-positive and HGV-negative patients (p =0.25).
Conclusion: This meta-analysis found a 25.3% global prevalence of HGV/HIV coinfection, with higher CD4 counts in coinfected patients (p=0.004) but no viral load impact (p=0.25). Results suggest HGV may modulate HIV progression, though mechanisms remain unclear. Larger longitudinal studies are needed to confirm clinical significance and explore genotype-specific effects.