Sulaiman Lakoh1,2, Emmanuel Firima3,4, Darlinda F Jiba5, Matilda N Kamara6, Wadzani Gashau7, Gibrilla F Deen6,5, Olukemi Adekanmbi8,9, George A Yendewa10,11,12. 1. Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Switzerland. lakoh2009@gmail.com. 2. Department of Medicine, University of Sierra Leone Teaching Hospitals Complex, Freetown, Switzerland. lakoh2009@gmail.com. 3. Clinical Research Unit, Department of Medicine, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland. 4. University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. 5. Department of Medicine, University of Sierra Leone Teaching Hospitals Complex, Freetown, Switzerland. 6. Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Switzerland. 7. Department of Medicine, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri, Nigeria. 8. Department of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. 9. Department of Medicine, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. 10. Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA. 11. Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, MD, USA. 12. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major global health problem. Although sub-Saharan Africa has a high proportion of the global burden of HBV, the epidemiology and clinical features of HBV in this region are poorly characterized, and access to diagnostic and treatment services remain limited. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of HBV-infected children and adults of all age groups who were evaluated at public and private health facilities in Freetown, Sierra Leone between January 2017 and January 2019. We assessed their clinical presentation, HBV sero-markers, stages of liver disease, prevalence of cirrhosis by non-invasive tools, and the proportion of treatment eligible patients using the criteria recommended by the World Health Organization's 2015 treatment guidelines for HBV. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of liver cirrhosis. RESULTS: 163 HBV patients included in the study, with mean age 32.6 years and 65.0% (106) being males. Most (84.0%) were asymptomatic at presentation. The majority (69.9%) were classified as having HBeAg-negative chronic infection (or inactive HBsAg carrier phase), 24.5% were in the HBeAg-negative immune active phase, 3.1% had HBeAg positive hepatitis, and 2.5% were HBsAg negative. The median Aspartate aminotransferase to Platelet Ratio (APRI) and Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) scores were 0.37 and 0.80, respectively. The prevalence of cirrhosis was 7.6% and 6.2%, estimated by the APRI and FIB-4 scores, respectively. About 20.0% of patients were eligible for treatment with antiviral agents. Based on APRI scores, the presence of any symptom [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 20.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) (4.1-85.9); p < 0.001], elevated direct bilirubin [aOR 12.1, 95% CI (1.9-63.0); p = 0.003], and elevated total bilirubin [aOR 16.1, 95% CI (3.2-80.8); p = 0.001] were independent predictors of cirrhosis. CONCLUSION: Although most patients with HBV infection were asymptomatic, the prevalence of liver cirrhosis and proportion of patients requiring antiviral treatment were substantial. This small study from a hyperendemic setting in Sierra Leone suggests that routine population-based screening may increase early detection and linkage of HBV patients to care before development of complications. Larger studies are needed to confirm our findings.
BACKGROUND:Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major global health problem. Although sub-Saharan Africa has a high proportion of the global burden of HBV, the epidemiology and clinical features of HBV in this region are poorly characterized, and access to diagnostic and treatment services remain limited. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of HBV-infectedchildren and adults of all age groups who were evaluated at public and private health facilities in Freetown, Sierra Leone between January 2017 and January 2019. We assessed their clinical presentation, HBV sero-markers, stages of liver disease, prevalence of cirrhosis by non-invasive tools, and the proportion of treatment eligible patients using the criteria recommended by the World Health Organization's 2015 treatment guidelines for HBV. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of liver cirrhosis. RESULTS: 163 HBVpatients included in the study, with mean age 32.6 years and 65.0% (106) being males. Most (84.0%) were asymptomatic at presentation. The majority (69.9%) were classified as having HBeAg-negative chronic infection (or inactive HBsAg carrier phase), 24.5% were in the HBeAg-negative immune active phase, 3.1% had HBeAg positive hepatitis, and 2.5% were HBsAg negative. The median Aspartate aminotransferase to Platelet Ratio (APRI) and Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) scores were 0.37 and 0.80, respectively. The prevalence of cirrhosis was 7.6% and 6.2%, estimated by the APRI and FIB-4 scores, respectively. About 20.0% of patients were eligible for treatment with antiviral agents. Based on APRI scores, the presence of any symptom [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 20.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) (4.1-85.9); p < 0.001], elevated direct bilirubin [aOR 12.1, 95% CI (1.9-63.0); p = 0.003], and elevated total bilirubin [aOR 16.1, 95% CI (3.2-80.8); p = 0.001] were independent predictors of cirrhosis. CONCLUSION: Although most patients with HBV infection were asymptomatic, the prevalence of liver cirrhosis and proportion of patients requiring antiviral treatment were substantial. This small study from a hyperendemic setting in Sierra Leone suggests that routine population-based screening may increase early detection and linkage of HBVpatients to care before development of complications. Larger studies are needed to confirm our findings.
Authors: Alex Yui Hui; Henry Lik-Yuen Chan; Vincent Wai-Sun Wong; Choong-Tsek Liew; Angel Mei-Ling Chim; Francis Ka-Leung Chan; Joseph Jao-Yiu Sung Journal: Am J Gastroenterol Date: 2005-03 Impact factor: 10.864
Authors: Norah A Terrault; Natalie H Bzowej; Kyong-Mi Chang; Jessica P Hwang; Maureen M Jonas; M Hassan Murad Journal: Hepatology Date: 2015-11-13 Impact factor: 17.425