DISTRIBUTION OF HBV GENOTYPES AMONG GEORGIAN PATIENTS OF DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Virology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection poses a significant public health challenge in Georgia, with a 2.9% prevalence in the adult population.
• Limited data exists on the distribution of HBV genotypes across different age demographics within Georgia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the distribution patterns of Hepatitis B virus genotypes among HBV-infected patients in Georgia, stratified by age groups.
• To identify potential associations between patient age and specific HBV genotypes prevalent in the Georgian population.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of clinical data from 84 HBV-infected patients at Mrcheveli medical center.
• Hepatitis B virus genotyping was performed using the INNO-LiPA methodology.
• Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 23.0 to assess genotype distribution and age correlations.

Main Results:

• Hepatitis B virus genotype D was the predominant genotype overall (57.1%), followed by genotype A (42.9%).
• A significant association was observed between age and HBV genotype distribution (p<0.001).
• Genotype D was more prevalent in participants over 35 years old (71.4%), whereas genotype A was more common in those 35 years old or younger (53.1%).

Conclusions:

• Hepatitis B virus genotype D is the most prevalent genotype among older Georgian patients with chronic HBV infection.
• Younger patients (≤35 years) in Georgia are more frequently infected with Hepatitis B virus genotype A.
• These findings underscore the importance of age-specific epidemiological data for understanding HBV transmission dynamics in Georgia.