title: Patterns of chronic hepatitis B in Central Italy: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: We investigated the patterns of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related disease in a large cohort of HBsAg-positive patients, in Central Italy, by collecting a screening form with demographic, clinical and laboratory data. Overall, 737 HBsAg-positive cases were included (70% male; median age 52 years): 30% were inactive HBsAg carriers, 51% had chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and 19% had HBV-related cirrhosis. Patients from non-European Union (EU) countries (n = 65) were significantly younger, had a higher prevalence of HBeAg-positive infection and hepatitis delta virus (HDV) co-infection than patients of Italian origin. Therefore, as immigration from non-EU countries continues to grow, we can expect a change in the landscape of HBV-related disease in our area.
authors.affiliation: Hepatology Unit, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. paola.piccolo@uniroma2.it
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piccolo
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lenci
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Telesca
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Di Paolo
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bandiera
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Melia
authors.forename: Orazio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sorbello
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Renier
authors.forename: Giovanni L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nosotti
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Santis
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levrero
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Antonucci
authors.forename: Maria Antonella
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.forename: Brigida E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Annicchiarico
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Angelico
mesh_terms: D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence