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Published on: December 15, 2023
Seroepidemiology of hepatitis B virus infection among Chinese schizophrenia patients
Huijuan Zhu1, Xingxiang Liu, Yong Xue
1SSchool of Public Health, Jiangsu Key Laboratory and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Disease, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China. zhuhuijuansd@suda.edu.cn.
Insights
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes B and C are prevalent in Chinese schizophrenia patients. Hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) seroprevalence declines with longer illness duration, necessitating HBV prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Psychiatry
- Virology
Background:
- Schizophrenia patients may have unique Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection characteristics.
- Understanding HBV markers and genotypes in this population is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), Hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb), and HBV genotypes in Chinese schizophrenia patients.
- To investigate the relationship between HBV infection markers and schizophrenia duration.
- To identify dominant HBV genotypes in this cohort.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 1,694 schizophrenia patients aged 9-85.
- Detected HBsAg, HBsAb, and HBV DNA using commercial assays.
- Measured liver function tests (ALT, AST, γ-GT, TBIL, IBIL).
- Analyzed HBV strains for genotypic distribution (B and C).
Main Results:
- HBsAg and HBsAb seroprevalence were 11.0% and 54.6% respectively.
- HBsAb seroprevalence significantly decreased with longer disease duration (p=0.0009).
- HBsAg and HBsAb co-infection was observed in 4.2% of subjects.
- Genotypes B and C were the dominant HBV strains (33 and 15 isolates, respectively).
Conclusions:
- Genotypes B and C HBV are dominant in Chinese schizophrenia patients.
- HBsAb seroprevalence decreases with schizophrenia duration.
- Effective HBV prevention strategies are needed for this vulnerable population.
Introduction:
This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of HBsAg, HBsAb, coexistence of HBsAg and HBsAb, and the genotypic distribution of HBV in Chinese schizophrenia patients.
Methodology:
A total of 1,694 schizophrenia patients, 9-85 years of age, were recruited for the present study. HBsAg, HBsAb, and HBV DNA were detected with commercial methods. ALT, AST, γ-GT, TBIL, and IBIL were measured by an automatic biochemistry analyzer. All statistical analyses were performed with SPSS 13.0.
Results:
The seroprevalence of HBsAg and HBsAb in 1,649 schizophrenia patients was 11.0% and 54.6%, respectively. HBsAb seroprevalence significantly decreased with the duration of the disease (p = 0.0009). The lowest seroprevalence of HBsAg was determined in 9.4% of the patients who had had the illness for < 1 year, and then increased to 11.7%, 11.3% and 11.7% in the patients who had had the illness for 1-5 years, 6-10 years and > 10 years. HBsAg and HBsAb coexisted in 69 individuals, which comprised 4.2% of the total subjects, and in 38.1% of the HBsAg-positive patients. Additionally, HBV titers were quantified in 64 HBsAg-positive samples; the highest virus titer was 6.14×108 copies/mL, while 12 patients had less than 500 copies/mL. Moreover, among 48 HBV strains isolated from 62 HBsAg-positive samples, 33 and 15 strains belonged to genotypes C and B, respectively.
Conclusion:
Genotypes B and C HBV were the dominant genotypes distributed in schizophrenia patients, and the HBsAb seroprevalence significantly decreased with illness duration. Effective prevention strategies for against HBV transmission are required.
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