Changing delta hepatitis patient profile: A single center experience in Valencia region, Spain

Delta hepatitis is a rare infection with an aggressive disease course. For almost three decades, however, there have been no epidemiological studies in our traditionally endemic area.

To investigate the prevalence of delta hepatitis in a sample of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection followed at a Hepatology Unit in Valencia, Spain.

Retrospective evaluation of anti-hepatitis D virus-immunoglobulin G seroprevalence among patients with chronic HBV infection (n = 605) followed at a reference Hepatology Unit in Spain.

The prevalence of anti-hepatitis D virus-immunoglobulin G among HBV-infected patients was 11.5%: Male (63%) and median age of 52 years. The majority were born in Spain (67%) and primarily infected through intravenous drug use. However, a significant percent (24.5%), particularly those diagnosed in more recent years, were migrants presumably nosocomially infected. Comorbidities such as diabetes (8.5%), obesity/overweight (55%), and alcohol consumption (34%) were frequent. A high proportion of patients developed liver complications such as cirrhosis (77%), liver decompensation (81%), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (16.5%), or required liver transplantation (LT) (59.5%). Diabetes was associated with progression to cirrhosis, LT, and death. Male sex, increasing age, and alcohol were associated with LT and HCC. Compared to HBV mono-infected patients, delta individuals developed cirrhosis and liver decompensation more frequently, with no differences in HCC rates.

Patients infected in the 1980's were mostly locals infected through intravenous drug use, whereas those diagnosed recently are frequently non-Spanish natives from endemic areas. Regardless of their origin, patients are predominantly male with significant comorbidities, which potentially play a major role in disease progression. We confirm a high rate of subsequent liver complications.