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Mortality from HCC, liver disease increases in patients with HBV

Patients in France positive for chronic hepatitis B virus infection had increased mortality due to chronic liver disease, hepatocellular carcinoma or non-Hodgkin lymphoma compared with the general population, according to data published in the Journal of Hepatology.

“In France, about 3 million people have been in contact with HBV, and 280,800 have chronic HCV infection,” the researchers wrote. “Hepatitis B-related mortality in developed countries is not well-known.

The aim of this study was first to evaluate the risk of mortality in a population-based cohort of people with chronic HBV infection compared with the general population, and second to identify predictors of all-cause mortality and HBV-related mortality.

Researchers analyzed data of 1,117 patients diagnosed with HBV between 1994 and 2009 based on a population-based registry of 1 million residents in France. Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier models were used to measure all-cause and HBV-related mortality rates.

Overall, 12.2% of patients died (n=136). All-cause mortality was higher in patients with HBV (standardized mortality ratio [SMR] = 1.7; 1.4-2) compared with patients without HBV. Cumulative rates for all-cause mortality were 8.6% at 5 years, 12.6% at 10 years and 18.5% at 15 years, and the corresponding values for HBV-related mortality were 3.5%, 4.2%, and 5.8%, respectively, according to the research.

High mortality rates due to HCC (SMR = 15.9, 10-24.1), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (SMR = 8.6, 3.1-18.6) and liver disease (SMR = 10.2, 5.8-16.6) were observed.

Multivariate analysis for all-cause mortality and for HBV-related mortality showed male sex, greater than 45 years of age at diagnosis, current alcoholism and nosocomial risk factors were predictors of increased mortality.

“There was a significant increased risk of death due to HCC, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and chronic liver disease compared to the general population,” the researchers concluded. “From a public health viewpoint, these data strongly support the importance of vaccination at birth or in childhood against HBV infection particularly in countries at risk.” – by Melinda Stevens

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.