Journal of Medical Virology
Volume 91, Issue 8, 2019, Pages 1479-1488

Prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B virus infection in Middle-Limburg Belgium, year 2017: Importance of migration (Article)

Koc Ö.M.* , Kremer C. , Bielen R. , Buscchots D. , Hens N. , Nevens F. , Robaeys G.
  • a Department of Gastro-Enterology and Hepatology, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Genk, Belgium, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium, Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, Netherlands
  • b Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and Statistical Bioinformatics (I-Biostat), Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
  • c Department of Gastro-Enterology and Hepatology, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Genk, Belgium, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
  • d Department of Gastro-Enterology and Hepatology, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Genk, Belgium, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
  • e Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and Statistical Bioinformatics (I-Biostat), Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium, Centre for Health Economic Research and Modelling Infectious Diseases, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
  • f Department of Gastro-Enterology and Hepatology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
  • g Department of Gastro-Enterology and Hepatology, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Genk, Belgium, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium, Department of Gastro-Enterology and Hepatology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

Abstract

Background and Aim: The hepatitis B virus (HBV) prevalence study performed in 2003 in Belgium is believed to be underestimating HBV prevalence due to underrepresentation of the non-Belgian population. Therefore, we assessed the prevalence and risk factors of HBV infection in a multi-ethnic region situated in Middle-Limburg Belgium, in 2017. Methods: Between May and November 2017, blood samples and questionnaires were taken from patients who presented at the emergency department of a large educational hospital. Blood samples were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B core antibodies (anti-HBc). A sample size of 1000 persons was required to obtain a representative sample of the general Middle-Limburg population. Results: Of the 1131 patients screened, the overall HBsAg prevalence was 0.97% with differences between Belgians (0.67%) and first-generation-migrants (2.55%), (P = 0.015). Five (45.5%) of 11 HBsAg-positive individuals were not aware of their HBV status. All five (100%) newly diagnosed HBsAg-positive patients had further clinical evaluation and all had a normal level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT). The prevalence of anti-HBc was 8.4%, and was significantly associated with age-gender-ethnicity interaction, presence of HBV-infected household member, hepatitis C virus infection, men who have sex with men, and hemodialysis. Conclusions: In this area with large immigrant populations, we found a higher prevalence of HBV infection compared with the nationwide study of 2003. National HBV screening for first-generation migrants is needed as this high-risk group will go unnoticed due to the possible incorrect interpretation of normal ALT values. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Author Keywords

Migrants risk factors Hepatitis B Belgium Prevalence

Index Keywords

blood sampling household alanine aminotransferase blood level population alanine aminotransferase human controlled study health status Aged nonhuman emergency ward men who have sex with men male female clinical evaluation hemodialysis questionnaire high risk population Belgium prevalence teaching hospital Article major clinical study adult migration infection risk age sample size hepatitis B surface antigen ethnicity patient hepatitis B hepatitis B core antibody
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85063410150&doi=10.1002%2fjmv.25457&partnerID=40&md5=f2166fe7f0507923b426f2847d4018c7
DOI: 10.1002/jmv.25457
ISSN: 01466615
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English