TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection among general population of Armenia in 2021 and factors associated with it
T2 - a cross-sectional study
AU - Demirchyan, Anahit
AU - Dudareva, Sandra
AU - Sahakyan, Serine
AU - Aslanyan, Lusine
AU - Muradyan, Diana
AU - Musheghyan, Lusine
AU - Mozalevskis, Antons
AU - Sargsyants, Narina
AU - Ghukasyan, Gayane
AU - Petrosyan, Varduhi
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© World Health Organization 2024. Licensee BMJ.
PY - 2024/2/7
Y1 - 2024/2/7
N2 - Objectives This study sought to determine the prevalence and associated factors of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection ever in life and chronic HBV infection in Armenia. Design A population-based cross-sectional seroprevalence study combined with a phone survey of tested individuals. Setting All administrative units of Armenia including 10 provinces and capital city Yerevan. Participants The study frame was the general adult population of Armenia aged ≥18 years. Primary and secondary outcome measures The participants were tested for anti-HBV core antibodies (anti-HBc) and HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) using third-generation enzyme immunoassays. In case of HBsAg positivity, HBV DNA and hepatitis D virus (HDV) RNA PCR tests were performed. Risk factors of HBV infection ever in life (anti-HBc positivity) and chronic HBV infection (HBsAg positivity) were identified through fitting logistic regression models. Results The seroprevalence study included 3838 individuals 18 years and older. Of them, 90.7% (3476 individuals) responded to the phone survey. The prevalence of anti-HBc positivity was 14.1% (95% CI 13.1% to 15.2%) and HBsAg positivity 0.8% (95% CI 0.5% to 1.1%). The viral load was over 10 000 IU/mL for 7.9% of HBsAg-positive individuals. None of the participants was positive for HDV. Risk factors for HBsAg positivity included less than secondary education (aOR=6.44; 95% CI 2.2 to 19.1), current smoking (aOR=2.56; 95% CI 1.2 to 5.6), and chronic liver disease (aOR=8.44; 95% CI 3.0 to 23.7). In addition to these, risk factors for anti-HBc positivity included age (aOR=1.04; 95% CI 1.04 to 1.05), imprisonment ever in life (aOR=2.53; 95% CI 1.41 to 4.56), and poor knowledge on infectious diseases (aOR=1.32; 95% CI 1.05 to 1.67), while living in Yerevan (vs provinces) was protective (aOR=0.74; 95% CI 0.59 to 0.93). Conclusion This study provided robust estimates of HBV markers among general population of Armenia. Its findings delineated the need to revise HBV testing and treatment strategies considering higher risk population groups, and improve population knowledge on HBV prevention.
AB - Objectives This study sought to determine the prevalence and associated factors of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection ever in life and chronic HBV infection in Armenia. Design A population-based cross-sectional seroprevalence study combined with a phone survey of tested individuals. Setting All administrative units of Armenia including 10 provinces and capital city Yerevan. Participants The study frame was the general adult population of Armenia aged ≥18 years. Primary and secondary outcome measures The participants were tested for anti-HBV core antibodies (anti-HBc) and HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) using third-generation enzyme immunoassays. In case of HBsAg positivity, HBV DNA and hepatitis D virus (HDV) RNA PCR tests were performed. Risk factors of HBV infection ever in life (anti-HBc positivity) and chronic HBV infection (HBsAg positivity) were identified through fitting logistic regression models. Results The seroprevalence study included 3838 individuals 18 years and older. Of them, 90.7% (3476 individuals) responded to the phone survey. The prevalence of anti-HBc positivity was 14.1% (95% CI 13.1% to 15.2%) and HBsAg positivity 0.8% (95% CI 0.5% to 1.1%). The viral load was over 10 000 IU/mL for 7.9% of HBsAg-positive individuals. None of the participants was positive for HDV. Risk factors for HBsAg positivity included less than secondary education (aOR=6.44; 95% CI 2.2 to 19.1), current smoking (aOR=2.56; 95% CI 1.2 to 5.6), and chronic liver disease (aOR=8.44; 95% CI 3.0 to 23.7). In addition to these, risk factors for anti-HBc positivity included age (aOR=1.04; 95% CI 1.04 to 1.05), imprisonment ever in life (aOR=2.53; 95% CI 1.41 to 4.56), and poor knowledge on infectious diseases (aOR=1.32; 95% CI 1.05 to 1.67), while living in Yerevan (vs provinces) was protective (aOR=0.74; 95% CI 0.59 to 0.93). Conclusion This study provided robust estimates of HBV markers among general population of Armenia. Its findings delineated the need to revise HBV testing and treatment strategies considering higher risk population groups, and improve population knowledge on HBV prevention.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85184685242&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-080281
DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-080281
M3 - Article
C2 - 38326250
AN - SCOPUS:85184685242
SN - 2044-6055
VL - 14
JO - BMJ Open
JF - BMJ Open
IS - 2
M1 - e080281
ER -