Prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection in health checkup participants: a cross-sectional study at University Medical Center, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Abstract

Objectives: Vietnam is one of the countries in highly endemic areas of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the world. Our study aims to determine the prevalence of HBV infection among different age groups of workers who had been included for annual general health checkups.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Health Screening Department, University Medical Center at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, using anonymous data from employees who had health checkups from June 2017 to June 2018.

Results: A total of 5727 subjects were included, with an overall HBV prevalence of 9.0%. The prevalence of HBV infection was significantly higher in men and lowest in the age groups of 18-30. In multivariable analysis, the variables that were independently associated with HBV infection were male gender (Odd ratio (OR), 2.03; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.58-2.60; p < 0.001), older than 30 years old (age group of 31-40: OR 1.7; 95% CI, 1.33-2.18; p < 0.001; of 41-50, OR 1.82; 95% CI, 1.37-2.43; p < 0.001); high total cholesterol (OR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.64-0.94; p = 0.011), high triglyceride (OR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.42-0.65; p < 0.001), and having significant fibrosis (OR, 2.7; 95% CI 1.85-3,95; p < 0.001).

Conclusions: The prevalence of HBV infection among employees on health assessments is still high (9%), even in the age group under 30 (7%). Male, age group older than 30, and significant liver fibrosis were the factors related to HBV infection. High cholesterol and level triglyceride were protective factors against HBV infection.