Epidemiological, clinical and laboratory features of chronic hepatitis B infection in a cohort of immigrant and Italian patients from Ferrara, Italy
Background. Italy has recently become a land of immigration. Two hundred and fifty thousand carriers are immigrants and chronic HBV infection is the prevalent form. Considering the elevated number of foreigners resident in our province and the potential risk of transmission to local people, we retro...
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doaj-0bac049c3fba4d549f180988eaf10d912021-06-09T05:54:32ZengElsevierAnnals of Hepatology1665-26812012-11-01116862869Epidemiological, clinical and laboratory features of chronic hepatitis B infection in a cohort of immigrant and Italian patients from Ferrara, ItalyCarlo Contini, M.D.0Lorenzo Badia1Rosario Cultrera2Anastasio Grilli3Aldo De Togni4Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Ferrara, via F. di Mortara, 23;; Correspondence and reprint request:Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Ferrara, via F. di Mortara, 23;Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Ferrara, via F. di Mortara, 23;Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Ferrara, via F. di Mortara, 23;Unit of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics. Hygiene and Public Health Service, Azienda USL, Ferrara, I-44100 ItalyBackground. Italy has recently become a land of immigration. Two hundred and fifty thousand carriers are immigrants and chronic HBV infection is the prevalent form. Considering the elevated number of foreigners resident in our province and the potential risk of transmission to local people, we retrospectively investigated the patterns of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in 154 patients (76 foreigners, 78 Italians) observed in our Institution, with regard to demographic and clinical/laboratory characteristics.Results. The immigrants were younger (mean age 31 years) compared to Italians (51.5) and mainly came from East Europe. Regarding exposure to HBV, the intra-familial risk factor was most frequently observed in foreigners, compared to Italians (p = 0.03). Foreigners also showed a higher prevalence of HBeAg positive forms, HDV co-infection (7.9%) and abnormal ALT and/or HBV-DNA values, compared to Italians. HBeAg positivity was more associated with increased ALT (OR = 36.6, p = 0.001) than with elevated HBV viremia (OR = 6.5, p = 0.049); age was a protective factor (OR = 0.1; p = 0.014). No significant association was found between increased ALT and foreign nationality. The simultaneous presence of increased ALT and viremia was more frequent among foreigners, (OR = 7.6, p = 0,014) and increased with age (OR = 1.06, p = 0.013). Antiviral therapy was given in 7.8% of foreign citizens.Conclusion. Immigrants constitute a vulnerable population subgroup that would benefit from a more active approach regarding doctor-patient relationship for early recognition of HBV and treatment programmes.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1665268119314115EpidemiologyHBVHDVIntrafamiliar riskForeignersEast Europe |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Carlo Contini, M.D. Lorenzo Badia Rosario Cultrera Anastasio Grilli Aldo De Togni |
spellingShingle |
Carlo Contini, M.D. Lorenzo Badia Rosario Cultrera Anastasio Grilli Aldo De Togni Epidemiological, clinical and laboratory features of chronic hepatitis B infection in a cohort of immigrant and Italian patients from Ferrara, Italy Annals of Hepatology Epidemiology HBV HDV Intrafamiliar risk Foreigners East Europe |
author_facet |
Carlo Contini, M.D. Lorenzo Badia Rosario Cultrera Anastasio Grilli Aldo De Togni |
author_sort |
Carlo Contini, M.D. |
title |
Epidemiological, clinical and laboratory features of chronic hepatitis B infection in a cohort of immigrant and Italian patients from Ferrara, Italy |
title_short |
Epidemiological, clinical and laboratory features of chronic hepatitis B infection in a cohort of immigrant and Italian patients from Ferrara, Italy |
title_full |
Epidemiological, clinical and laboratory features of chronic hepatitis B infection in a cohort of immigrant and Italian patients from Ferrara, Italy |
title_fullStr |
Epidemiological, clinical and laboratory features of chronic hepatitis B infection in a cohort of immigrant and Italian patients from Ferrara, Italy |
title_full_unstemmed |
Epidemiological, clinical and laboratory features of chronic hepatitis B infection in a cohort of immigrant and Italian patients from Ferrara, Italy |
title_sort |
epidemiological, clinical and laboratory features of chronic hepatitis b infection in a cohort of immigrant and italian patients from ferrara, italy |
publisher |
Elsevier |
series |
Annals of Hepatology |
issn |
1665-2681 |
publishDate |
2012-11-01 |
description |
Background. Italy has recently become a land of immigration. Two hundred and fifty thousand carriers are immigrants and chronic HBV infection is the prevalent form. Considering the elevated number of foreigners resident in our province and the potential risk of transmission to local people, we retrospectively investigated the patterns of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in 154 patients (76 foreigners, 78 Italians) observed in our Institution, with regard to demographic and clinical/laboratory characteristics.Results. The immigrants were younger (mean age 31 years) compared to Italians (51.5) and mainly came from East Europe. Regarding exposure to HBV, the intra-familial risk factor was most frequently observed in foreigners, compared to Italians (p = 0.03). Foreigners also showed a higher prevalence of HBeAg positive forms, HDV co-infection (7.9%) and abnormal ALT and/or HBV-DNA values, compared to Italians. HBeAg positivity was more associated with increased ALT (OR = 36.6, p = 0.001) than with elevated HBV viremia (OR = 6.5, p = 0.049); age was a protective factor (OR = 0.1; p = 0.014). No significant association was found between increased ALT and foreign nationality. The simultaneous presence of increased ALT and viremia was more frequent among foreigners, (OR = 7.6, p = 0,014) and increased with age (OR = 1.06, p = 0.013). Antiviral therapy was given in 7.8% of foreign citizens.Conclusion. Immigrants constitute a vulnerable population subgroup that would benefit from a more active approach regarding doctor-patient relationship for early recognition of HBV and treatment programmes. |
topic |
Epidemiology HBV HDV Intrafamiliar risk Foreigners East Europe |
url |
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1665268119314115 |
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