Current trends in access to treatment for hepatitis B in immigrants vs non-immigrants
Miquel Planas, Mireia (Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari. Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT))
Pardo, Albert (Hospital Universitari Joan XXIII de Tarragona)
Forné, Montse (Hospital Universitari MútuaTerrassa (Terrassa, Catalunya))
Martínez-Alpin, Gemma (Consorci Sanitari de Terrassa)
Rodríguez-Castellano, Adrià (Hospital Universitari Joan XXIII de Tarragona)
Casas, Meritxell (Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari. Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT))
Rosinach, Mercè (Hospital Universitari MútuaTerrassa (Terrassa, Catalunya))
Roget, Mercè (Consorci Sanitari de Terrassa)
Dalmau, Blai (Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari. Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT))
Temiño, Rocío (Hospital Universitari MútuaTerrassa (Terrassa, Catalunya))
Quer, Joan Carlos (Hospital Universitari Joan XXIII de Tarragona)
Sánchez-Delgado, Jordi (Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari. Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT))
Ortiz, Jordi (Consorci Sanitari de Terrassa)
Vergara, Mercedes (Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari. Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT))
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Medicina

Date:	2020
Abstract:	Universal vaccination for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and migratory movements have changed the demographic characteristics of this disease in Spain and in Europe. Therefore, we evaluated the characteristics of the disease and the possible differences according to origin (immigrants vs non-immigrants) and access to treatment. This is a multicenter cross-sectional study (June 2014 to May 2015) in which outpatients with a positive HBsAg were seen and followed in four Hepatology units. Demographic and clinical data and indication and access to treatment were collected in two different regions of Catalonia (Spain) where there are no barriers to treatment due to a comprehensive coverage under the National Health System. A total of 951 patients were evaluated (48. 1% men). Of these, 46. 6% were immigrants (58. 7% of them were born in Africa) and were significantly younger compared to non-immigrants. The proportions of patients with alcohol consumption, being overweight, and other indicators of metabolic co-morbidities were significantly higher in non-immigrants. Among the 937 patients receiving HBeAg examination, 91. 7% were HBeAg-negative. Chronic HBeAg-positive infection was significantly higher in immigrants (3. 9% vs 0. 6%, P = 0. 001) and chronic HBeAg-negative hepatitis was higher non-immigrants (31. 7% vs 21. 4%, P < 0. 001). Not only was the proportion of patients who met treatment criteria significantly higher among non-immigrants (38. 4% vs 29. 2%, P = 0. 003), but also the proportion of those with indication of effectively receiving therapy at the time of data collection (83. 2% vs 57. 8 %, P < 0. 001). The immigrant population with HBV is younger and has a lower prevalence of metabolic co-morbidities and a higher frequency of chronic HBeAg infection. Despite having access to care and an indication for treatment, some do not get adequately treated due to several factors including local adaptation that precludes access to treatment.
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Hepatitis B ; Prevalence ; Immigration ; Access to treatment
Published in:	Gastroenterology Report, Vol. 8 Num. 5 (oct. 2020) , p. 362-366, ISSN 2052-0034

DOI: 10.1093/gastro/goaa010
PMID: 33163191

5 p, 217.3 KB

The record appears in these collections:
Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Health sciences and biosciences > Parc Taulí Research and Innovation Institute (I3PT
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles