The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen in Nigerian diabetics

The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBS Ag) was determined in 210 Nigerian diabetics and in 210 non-diabetic controls matched for age and sex. Nineteen diabetics (9.0%) were found to have HBS Ag in their sera compared to six (2.9%) of the non-diabetic controls. The difference is statistically significant and may be attributable to the common practice of injudicious administration of insulin injections among Nigerian diabetics. There was no correlation between the prevalence of HBS Ag and the degree of control of diabetes. The prevalence of HBS Ag among new diabetics was found to be low. It is unlikely that diabetics have impaired ability to remove the hepatitis B virus once they are infected or that serum hepatitis plays any role in the causation of diabetes.