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Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction-Based Detection and Quantification of Hepatitis B Virus DNA
Published on: December 15, 2023
Epidemiology of hepatitis B among professional male athletes in Qatar
Bruce H Hamilton1, Justin A Paoloni, Hakim Chalabi
1Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, PO Box 29222, Doha, Qatar. bruce.hamilton@aspetar.com
Objective:
To assess the Hepatitis B status of sportsmen competing in Qatar and to evaluate the risk of transmission.
Methods:
In a cross-sectional study design, serological analysis was carried out on 780 sportsmen who attended the Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha Qatar, between March 2008 and February 2009 for a pre-participation screening.
Results:
Hepatitis B infection prevalence of 2.2% and a lack of immunity in 53.3%. Highest rates of infection were observed in non-Qatari nationals, particularly those of African origin. There was no clear trend with age and immunity level, but cycling was found to have significantly higher rates of Hepatitis B infection. There was no difference in infection rates between contact and non-contact sports.
Conclusion:
The risk of Hepatitis B transmission in football was assessed at one transmission in 12.5 million football matches, but the high rate of non-immunity suggests that sportsmen competing in Qatar are at elevated risk of Hepatitis B infection should they be exposed. This imbalance of infection and immunity rates requires further investigation and urgent redress.
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