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Abstract Details
Prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis B core antibody among adults with latent tuberculosis infection
Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2021 Dec 1;33(1S Suppl 1):e610-e614.doi: 10.1097/MEG.0000000000002180.
1Department of Medicine, Alameda Health System - Highland Hospital, Oakland, California, USA.
2Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, University Health Network, Toronto General Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
3Tuberculosis Section, Division of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Alameda County Public Health Department, San Leandro.
4Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto.
5Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive or hepatitis B core antibody total (anti-HBc) among adults with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in the USA.
Methods: Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2000 and 2011-2012 cycles, US adults with LTBI (identified by positive tuberculin skin test or positive QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube test) were evaluated to determine prevalence HBsAg and anti-HBc. Survey-weighted data was used to determine prevalence estimates of HBsAg or anti-HBc, which were further stratified by sex, race/ethnicity, country of birth and age. Trends were analyzed by regressing the outcome over time. Between-group comparisons used chi-squared testing.
Results: Overall prevalence of LTBI was 4.2% [95% confidence interval (CI), 3.5-5.1]. Among individuals with LTBI, HBsAg prevalence was 0.9% (95% CI, 0.4-2.1) and anti-HBc prevalence was 12.9% (95% CI, 9.8-16.8), both of which remained stable between 1999-2000 and 2011-2012. While no significant differences in HBsAg prevalence were observed by sex, race/ethnicity, country of birth, age, anti-HBc prevalence was significantly higher in men vs. women (16.8 vs. 7.9%, P < 0.05), blacks vs. non-Hispanic whites (22.9 vs. 5.9%, P < 0.05), non-US born vs. US-born (15.9 vs. 7.2%, P = 0.01) and highest in the oldest age group (age ≥65 years: 17.5%, 95% CI, 10.5-27.8).
Conclusion: Among US adults with LTBI, overall prevalence of HBsAg was 0.9%. One in eight individuals with LTBI had prior HBV exposure. Effective HBV screening among individuals with LTBI may allow changes in clinical practice to prevent drug-induced liver injury from anti-TB therapies.