BACKGROUND AND AIM: Many physicians remain unaware of contemporary treatments for chronic hepatitis B (HBV) infection and do not treat their HBV-infected patients or refer them for treatment. The aim of the present study was to determine the rates of laboratory evaluation and treatment of HBV infection in a predominantly low-income and immigrant population. METHODS: We identified adult patients who tested positive for hepatitis B surface antigen between 1 January 1994 and 30 April 2006. We reviewed patients' medical records to determine two outcomes: (i) receipt of pretreatment evaluation of HBV infection; and (ii) receipt of HBV treatment. We then examined clinical and demographic factors associated with these outcomes. RESULTS: Twenty-eight percent of 1231 HBV surface antigen-positive patients received additional laboratory evaluation of their infection. In a multivariate analysis, receipt of a HBV evaluation was independently associated with (P < 0.05) female sex, longer duration of HBV infection, more visits to a gastroenterology clinic and less recent health-care contact. Data on treatment were available for 56% of patients; among these, 16% received HBV treatment. In the multivariate analysis, receipt of HBV treatment was independently associated with (P < 0.05) HIV co-infection, receipt of liver biopsy, testing for hepatitis B e antigen or HBV DNA, longer duration of HBV infection, more visits to a gastroenterology clinic and more recent health-care contact. When excluding HIV-infected patients, only 10% of patients received HBV treatment. CONCLUSIONS: After the diagnosis of HBV infection, few patients in our population received laboratory evaluation to determine eligibility for HBV treatment. Furthermore, only a small percentage received HBV treatment. Further research needs to be done to validate these findings in other populations and understand barriers to receiving HBV treatment.
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Many physicians remain unaware of contemporary treatments for chronic hepatitis B (HBV) infection and do not treat their HBV-infectedpatients or refer them for treatment. The aim of the present study was to determine the rates of laboratory evaluation and treatment of HBV infection in a predominantly low-income and immigrant population. METHODS: We identified adult patients who tested positive for hepatitis B surface antigen between 1 January 1994 and 30 April 2006. We reviewed patients' medical records to determine two outcomes: (i) receipt of pretreatment evaluation of HBV infection; and (ii) receipt of HBV treatment. We then examined clinical and demographic factors associated with these outcomes. RESULTS: Twenty-eight percent of 1231 HBV surface antigen-positive patients received additional laboratory evaluation of their infection. In a multivariate analysis, receipt of a HBV evaluation was independently associated with (P < 0.05) female sex, longer duration of HBV infection, more visits to a gastroenterology clinic and less recent health-care contact. Data on treatment were available for 56% of patients; among these, 16% received HBV treatment. In the multivariate analysis, receipt of HBV treatment was independently associated with (P < 0.05) HIV co-infection, receipt of liver biopsy, testing for hepatitis B e antigen or HBV DNA, longer duration of HBV infection, more visits to a gastroenterology clinic and more recent health-care contact. When excluding HIV-infectedpatients, only 10% of patients received HBV treatment. CONCLUSIONS: After the diagnosis of HBV infection, few patients in our population received laboratory evaluation to determine eligibility for HBV treatment. Furthermore, only a small percentage received HBV treatment. Further research needs to be done to validate these findings in other populations and understand barriers to receiving HBV treatment.
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Authors: Nizar A Mukhtar; Donna M Evon; Colina Yim; Anna S Lok; Nadra Lisha; Mauricio Lisker-Melman; Mohamed Hassan; Harry L A Janssen; Mandana Khalili Journal: Dig Dis Sci Date: 2020-04-01 Impact factor: 3.199
Authors: Vinh D Vu; Ailinh Do; Nghia H Nguyen; Lily H Kim; Huy N Trinh; Huy A Nguyen; Khanh K Nguyen; My Nguyen; Andrew Huynh; Mindie H Nguyen Journal: BMJ Open Gastroenterol Date: 2015-10-21