A Study Of Seroprevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Hepatitis B at a Tertiary Care Hospital

Background: Hepatitis B is a vaccine preventable hepatotropic virus. India shows wide range of seroprevalence in different regions. Hepatitis B being a hepatotropic virus, long term effects on liver should be studied specially in cases of metabolic diseases. Aims & objectives: The study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital to estimate seroprevalence of hepatitis B in both sexes & different age groups, association of hepatitis B with signs and symptoms, possible risk factors for the transmission and co morbidities. Method: A prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted for a period of one year (2018-2019) at a tertiary care hospital and included 600 subjects at a tertiary care hospital. A detailed history of patient was recorded. Five milliliter of blood was collected for testing Hepatitis B by ELISA test. Results were analyzed statistically. Result: Seroprevalence of 2.8% was observed in present study. It was predominantly seen in age group 31-40yr (5.9%). History of past surgeries was observed to be a significant risk factors for hepatitis B. Diabetes was a statistically significant comorbidity associated with hepatitis B. Conclusion: Association of Hepatitis B with diabetes needs to be evaluated as both the diseases primarily affect liver which may accelerate the course of either of the diseases There is a need to do molecular studies to identify escape mutants and genotypes of hepatitis B to decrease it’s incidence.