Prevalence and Clinical Significance of Occult Hepatitis B Infection in The Gambia, West Africa.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Prevalence and clinical outcomes of occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) have been poorly studied in Africa.

Methods

Using the PROLIFICA cohort, we compared the prevalence of OBI between hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-negative healthy adults screened from the general population (controls) and HBsAg-negative patients with advanced liver disease (cases), and estimated the population attributable fraction for the effect of OBI on advanced liver disease.

Results

OBI prevalence was significantly higher among cases (15/82, 18.3%) than controls (31/330, 9.4%, P = .03). After adjusting for age, sex, and anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) serology, OBI was significantly associated with advanced liver disease (odds ratio, 2.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-6.0; P =

SUBMITTER: Ndow G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9470103 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature