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Prevalence and subtype of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in the Saudi population
Insights
Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) prevalence in Saudi Arabia is higher in males than females, peaking in adolescents. The predominant subtype is ay.
Area of Science:
- * Hepatology
- * Epidemiology
- * Public Health
Background:
- * Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a significant global health concern.
- * Understanding the prevalence and distribution of HBV markers like Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is crucial for targeted prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To determine the prevalence of HBsAg in a large Saudi Arabian population.
- * To analyze HBsAg prevalence across different age groups and sexes.
- * To compare HBsAg prevalence in Saudi blood donors with other nationalities.
Main Methods:
- * Cross-sectional study involving 5467 Saudi Arabians from the Riyadh area.
- * Analysis of HBsAg prevalence by age, sex, and geographic region.
- * Comparative analysis of HBsAg prevalence in Saudi blood donors against Filipino, West European, and Yemeni blood donors.
Main Results:
- * Overall HBsAg prevalence was higher in Saudi males (5.2%) than females (3.7%).
- * Prevalence peaked in males aged 10-14 years (7.8%) and females aged 3-9 years (5.3%).
- * The 'ay' subtype was predominant (91%). Filipino males had the highest prevalence (12.1%), while West Europeans had the lowest (0.4%).
Conclusions:
- * HBsAg prevalence in Saudi Arabia exhibits a distinct pattern concerning age and sex.
- * Male Saudi blood donors showed a prevalence similar to Yemeni donors, but significantly lower than Filipino males.
- * These findings highlight the need for continued surveillance and tailored public health interventions for Hepatitis B in Saudi Arabia.
Abstract:
Prevalence of HBsAg was studied in 5467 Saudi Arabians (2588 males, 2879 females) of various age groups from the Riyadh area, Central Province. Prevalence was found to be almost the same (6.3%-6.7%) in children less than 3 years of age in both sexes and reached its peak in the 10-14 years old for males (7.8%) and in the 3-9 years old for females (5.3%). The overall prevalence rate in males (5.2%) was significantly higher than that in Saudi females (3.7%); p less than 0.025. The predominant subtype in the Saudi population is ay (91%). Prevalence of HBsAg in 2140 Saudi blood donors was compared with that in 580 Filipino, 677 West European and 286 Yemeni blood donors. Prevalence was highest among Filippino males (12.1%) and lowest among West Europeans (0.4%). Prevalence among male Saudi blood donors was close to that among Yemeni blood donors (4.9%). In all three groups prevalence of HBsAg was higher in males than in females.