Infection Rate and Risk Factors of Hepatitis B Virus, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Patients with Chronic Kidney Diseases in Baquba Teaching Hospital Diyala – Iraq

Abstract Background: Hepatitis B virus infection and human immunodeficiency virus infections are still major causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic kidney diseases with hemodialysis worldwide. Hepatitis B virus infection and human immunodeficiency virus are blood-borne diseases transmitted through the sharing of dialysis machines or via blood transfusion in hemodialysis patients. Objectives: To investigate the seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus, and human immunodeficiency virus infections among patients with chronic kidney diseases who were treated with hemodialysis in Baqubah Teaching Hospital Diyala - Iraq. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 282 hemodialysis patients comprising 165 men and 117 women, aged 10-85 years, who were admitted to the Baqubah Teaching Hospital - Ibn Sina Dialysis Center, Iraq during the period from 16 th December 2020 to 16 th April 2021. The patients were examined for hepatitis B virus surface antigen, and human immunodeficiency virus antibody (type-1, type-2, and Subtype O) using the enzyme immunoassay technique. Results: The mean age of the patients was 51.6 ± 14.16 years and the mean duration of hemodialysis was 30.2 ± 24.02 months. The results of this study showed that the infection rate of hepatitis B virus was (0.7%), and there were no positive patients for human immunodeficiency virus. There is no statistical significance between male and female patients, residence, and educational levels, and between positive and negative HBsAg patients. The risk factors were the frequency of blood transfusions and duration of dialysis for transmission of the infections. Conclusions: The seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus infection was low among hemodialysis patients in Baqubah teaching hospital in Diyala Governorate, whereas human immunodeficiency virus was not reported in this study population.