Association between metabolic syndrome and its individual components with viral hepatitis B

The association between hepatitis B and metabolic syndrome (MetS) has not been well described. Overall epidemiologic evidences for this association have suggested conflicting results. The aim this study was to determine the association between hepatitis B infection and MetS using large U.S. population database, the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Individuals aged ≥18 years were included in this study. MetS was defined according to the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel guideline. The chronic hepatitis B was defined as the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen. The presence of hepatitis B core antibody with/without surface antibody, in the absence of surface antigen, was considered as past exposure to hepatitis B. To represent national estimates, weighted frequencies for chronic hepatitis B and past exposure to hepatitis B are reported. Multivariate logistic regression analysis accounting for age, gender, race, smoking and alcohol status was conducted to identify the independent predictor(s) of MetS.

This study cohort consisted of total population of 593,594 with chronic hepatitis B and 7,280,620 with past exposure to hepatitis B. Prevalence of MetS among included study cohort was 25.7%. Inverse association was observed between MetS and chronic hepatitis B (adjusted odds ratio, 0.32; 95% confidence interval, 0.12-0.84). Among individual components of MetS, waist circumference was inversely associated with chronic hepatitis B (adjusted odds ratio, 0.31; 95% confidence interval, 0.14-0.71). No significant association was noted between past exposure to hepatitis B and MetS or its individual components.

In this study, the authors noted significant inverse association between MetS and chronic hepatitis B.