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Author Spotlight: Advancements and Challenges in Hepatitis B Virus Detection
Published on: December 15, 2023
Current Condition of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Cuban Adults
Castellanos Fernández Marlen Ivón1, Dorta Guridi Zaily2, Da Silva Conde-Eduardo Leda Patricia2
1Department of Researches, National Institute of Gastroenterology, Havana, Cuba.
Insights
Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a concern in Cuba, particularly among adults with cancer. Many patients are diagnosed during inactive phases, and a significant portion have not received antiviral treatment.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Public Health
Background:
- Cuba's national immunization program has reduced hepatitis B virus (HBV) incidence.
- However, a notable number of chronic HBV patients are still seen in clinical practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the clinical characteristics of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection in Cuba.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study of 146 patients with at least a 6-month history of hepatitis B surface antigen positivity (2013-2015).
- Descriptive statistical analysis of epidemiologic, clinical, biochemical, and virologic data.
Main Results:
- The study included 146 patients (67.8% male, median age 43 years) with a median infection duration of 9 years.
- Chronic hepatitis (59%) and liver cirrhosis (34%) were common; 16.4% had concomitant malignancies, primarily lymphoma.
- Only 64.4% received antiviral treatment, with lamivudine being most common (61.6%). 70% were identified during an inactive phase.
Conclusions:
- Chronic HBV infection poses a significant health challenge in the adult Cuban population.
- The high prevalence of concomitant malignancies in chronic HBV patients requires special attention.
Background:
The reduction of the incidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Cuba can be attributed to the effectiveness of the national immunization program. However, the number of patients with chronic HBV observed in clinical practice is not negligible.
Objective:
A cross-sectional study was conducted to describe the main clinical characteristics of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection.
Methods:
A total of 146 patients who had at least a 6-month history of hepatitis B surface antigen positivity were recruited between 2013 and 2015. Descriptive statistical analysis of the epidemiologic, clinical, biochemical, and virologic variables was performed.
Results:
Men accounted for 67.8% of patients, and the median age was 43 years. The median time since diagnosis of infection was 9 years. Among the patients, 59% had chronic hepatitis, 34% had liver cirrhosis, and 7% were inactive carriers. Concomitant diagnoses demonstrated that 16.4% of patients had malignancies, predominantly lymphoma. Only 64.4% of patients had received antiviral treatment, and lamivudine was the most commonly used (61.6%) drug. Moreover, 70% of patients were identified during an inactive phase.
Conclusions:
Patients with chronic HBV infection are still a health problem in the adult Cuban population, especially in patients with concomitant malignancies.
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