Objective: This study aimed to analyze the demographic characteristics, serological markers, and temporal trends of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among patients at a tertiary hospital in Jazan, Saudi Arabia, over 3 years.
Methods: This retrospective study utilized patient data collected from the years 2021 to 2023. Participants were identified based on a positive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) result. Additional demographic details and HBV serological markers, including HBeAg, HBeAb, HBcIgM, and HBcIgG, were recorded.
Results: Among 43,763 samples received, a total of 1,858 participants tested positive for HBsAg (0.5%), with a male predominance (56.6%), 83.9% being Saudi nationals, and 77.2% aged over 40 years. Active HBV replication, indicated by HBeAg positivity, was observed in 2.6% of cases and was significantly associated with younger age (p-value = 0.011), with the highest replication rates recorded in the year 2021 (50%, p-value = 0.005).
Conclusion: This study provided an updated understanding of HBV infection dynamics in Jazan, showing a low HBsAg prevalence in the region, likely reflecting the impact of vaccination programs. However, younger individuals demonstrated more active HBV replication, indicating the importance of targeted interventions for this age group. In addition, the seasonal peaks in testing suggested that enhanced awareness could improve early detection and management.
Key words: Hepatitis B virus (HBV), infection, serological markers, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
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