Journal Article

Greater prevalence of comorbidities with increasing age: Cross-sectional analysis of chronic hepatitis B patients in Saudi Arabia

Babatin, MohammedA, Batwa, Faisal, Dahlan, Yaser, Genestier, Victor, Alfaleh, FalehZ, Alghamdi, Hamdan, Sanai, FaisalM, Alswat, KhalidA, Alalwan, AbduljaleelM, Alhamoudi, WaleedK, Ismail, MonaH, Albeladi, Khalid, Alghamdi, AbdullahS, Alshumrani, Waleed, Abdo, AymanA, Belhadi, Drifa, Aljumah, AbdulrahmanA, Altraif, IbrahimH

2019

Overview

Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia to some extent, are endemic for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection which could be associated with high mortality and comorbidities risk. However, limited data characterizing this CHB population exists. Our aim was to characterize and compare CHB patients in 2015 with those in 2010 and 2012 in Saudi Arabia. We conducted and compared three cross-sectional analyses of adult patients with CHB defined as either positive hepatitis B surface antigen or documented CHB history in 2010, 2012, and 2015. Data were accessed from the multicenter Systematic Observatory Liver Disease Registry (SOLID). A total of 765 CHB patients were identified in 2010 (n = 274), 2012 (n = 256), and 2015 (n = 235). Median age was significantly higher in 2015 (47 years) compared to 2010 and 2012 (42 years;P < 0.05). The proportions of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (range 1-12%) and cirrhosis (range 5-23%) were significantly higher in 2015 compared to 2010 and 2012 (P < 0.05). Compared to 2010, patients in 2015 had significantly (P < 0.05) higher prevalence of coronary artery disease (10% vs. 4%) and hyperbilirubinemia (18% vs. 9%). Although not significant, there was a numerical increase in 2015 in chronic kidney disease (9% vs. 7% in 2010;P= 0.559) and hepatic steatosis (32% vs. 25% in 2010;P= 0.074). Significantly more patients in 2015 (P < 0.05) were treatment experienced (23% vs. 5% in 2010/2012) and switched treatment (17% vs. 1-2% in 2010/2012). Between 2010 and 2015, the CHB population in Saudi Arabia had significantly aged and was more likely to develop liver disease sequelae and other comorbidities.

• Publisher: Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd,Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd,Wolters Kluwer - Medknow,Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subject: Adult / Aged / Aging (Biology) / Antigens / Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - epidemiology / Cardiovascular disease / Clinical Protocols - standards / Comorbidities / Comorbidity / Complications and side effects / Coronary Artery Disease - epidemiology / Cross-Sectional Studies / Demographic aspects / Demographics / Fatty liver / Fatty Liver - epidemiology / Female / Health aspects / Hepatitis / Hepatitis B / hepatitis B virus / Hepatitis B virus - genetics / Hepatitis B virus - isolation & purification / Hepatitis B, Chronic - drug therapy / Hepatitis B, Chronic - epidemiology / Hepatitis B, Chronic - mortality / Hepatitis B, Chronic - virology / Humans / Hyperbilirubinemia - epidemiology / Infection / Infections / Liver cancer / Liver cirrhosis / Liver Cirrhosis - epidemiology / Liver diseases / Liver Neoplasms - pathology / Male / Middle Aged / Mortality / Original / Patients / Pharmaceuticals / Prevalence / Renal Insufficiency, Chronic - epidemiology / Risk factors / Saudi Arabia / Saudi Arabia - epidemiology / Sociodemographics / Studies / treatment patterns / Type 2 diabetes