The burden and epidemiology of hepatitis B and hepatitis D in Georgia: findings from the national seroprevalence survey

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Public Health
• Personal Author:
  Kasradze, Ana ; Shadaker, Shaun ; Kuchuloria, Tatia ; Gamkrelidze, Amiran ; Nasrullah, Muazzam ; Gvinjilia, Lia ; Baliashvili, Davit ; Chitadze, Nazibrola ; Kodani, Maja ; Tejada-Strop, Alexandra ; Drobeniuc, Jan ; Hagan, Liesl ; Morgan, Juliette ; Imnadze, Paata ; Averhoff, Francisco
• Description:
  Objectives
  
  The burden of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis D virus (HDV) infections is unknown in Georgia. This analysis describes the prevalence of hepatitis B and coinfection with HDV and the demographic characteristics and risk factors for persons with HBV infection in Georgia.
  
  Study Design
  
  A cross-sectional seroprevalence study.
  
  Methods
  
  A cross-sectional, nationwide survey to assess hepatitis B prevalence among the general adult Georgian population (age ≥18 years) was conducted in 2015. Demographic and risk behavior data were collected. Blood specimens were screened for antiehepatitis B core total antibody (anti-HBc). Anti-HBc-positive specimens were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). HBsAg-positive specimens were tested for HBV and HDV nucleic acid. Nationally weighted prevalence estimates and adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for potential risk factors were determined for anti-HBc and HBsAg positivity.
  
  Results
  
  The national prevalence of anti-HBc and HBsAg positivity among adults were 25.9% and 2.9%, respectively. Persons aged ≥70 years had the highest anti-HBc positivity (32.7%), but the lowest HBsAg positivity prevalence (1.3%). Anti-HBc positivity was associated with injection drug use (aOR = 2.34; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.46–3.74), receipt of a blood transfusion (aOR = 1.68; 95% CI = 1.32–2.15), and sex with a commercial sex worker (aOR = 1.46; 95% CI = 1.06–2.01). HBsAg positivity was associated with receipt of a blood transfusion (aOR = 2.72; 95% CI = 1.54–4.80) and past incarceration (aOR = 2.72; 95% CI = 1.25–5.93). Among HBsAg-positive persons, 0.9% (95% CI = 0.0–2.0) were HDV coinfected.
  
  Conclusions
  
  Georgia has an intermediate to high burden of hepatitis B, and the prevalence of HDV coinfection among HBV-infected persons is low. Existing infrastructure for hepatitis C elimination could be leveraged to promote hepatitis B elimination.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Adolescent Adult Aged Article Coinfection Cross-Sectional Studies Female Georgia Hepatitis B Hepatitis B Antibodies Hepatitis B Surface Antigens Hepatitis B Virus Hepatitis D Hepatitis Delta Virus Humans Male Middle Aged Prevalence Risk Factors Seroepidemiologic Studies Sex Workers Surveys And Questionnaires Young Adult

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• Source:
  Public Health. 185:341-347
• Pubmed ID:
  32738575
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC7467099
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  CC999999/ImCDC/Intramural CDC HHSUnited States/
• Volume:
  185
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:e1d1ece31590dad6dc92322ad55422e661879303a2c4413771219fc079b17d63
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/93159/cdc_93159_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 292.77 KB ]