Association between metabolic syndrome and hepatitis B virus infection in the Roma population in eastern Slovakia: a population-based study.
BACKGROUND
The simultaneous presence of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and metabolic syndrome (MS) in the high-risk Roma community constitutes a high risk for liver cirrhosis and potentially hepatocellular carcinoma. This study aims to explore the relationship between MS and CHB.


METHODS
Data from the cross-sectional HepaMeta Study conducted in Slovakia in 2011 among Roma living in rural communities were used. Participants were tested for the presence of MS, and lipid levels--total cholesterol, high density lipoproteins (HDL), low density lipoproteins (LDL), triglycerides (TG), apolipoprotein B100, and CHB HBsAg and anti-HBc IgG were also monitored. Viral load was measured in HBsAg-positive patients.


RESULTS
A total of 452 patients were screened; MS was diagnosed in 29.6% of patients, and 12.5% had CHB. Anti-HBc IgG antibodies were present in 52.8% of patients. CHB patients had lower levels of total cholesterol (5.45 +/-1.21 vs. 4.71 +/- 1.23 mmol/l; p = 0.035), LDL cholesterol (median 2.2 mmol/l, interquartile range 0.88 mmol/l vs. 2.5 mmol/l, interquartile range 0.9 mmol/l; p = 0.01) and apolipoprotein B100 (median 0.66 mmol/l, interquartile range 0.26 mmol/l vs. 0.74 mmol/l, interquartile range 0.29 mmol/l; p = 0.025). Patients diagnosed with MS had a higher HBV DNA load than patients without MS (1,728.2 +/- 14.33 IU/ml vs. 12,779.1 +/- 20.9 IU/ml; p = 0.037). CHB patients with TC and apolipoprotein B100 within the reference range had a lower hepatitis B DNA (HBV DNA) load than patients with high or low values of TC or apolipoprotein B100.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of chronic hepatitis B and simultaneous presence of MS was high among Roma. HBsAg-positive patients had lower levels of total and LDL cholesterol along with decreased apolipoprotein B100. The viral load of chronic hepatitis B patients with MS was higher than in patients without MS.
Martin
M
Janicko
Gabriela
G
Senajová
Sylvia
S
Drazilová
Eduard
E
Veselíny
Ján
J
Fedacko
Leonard
L
Siegfried
Pavol
P
Kristian
Ladislav
L
Virág
Daniel
D
Pella
Mária
M
Mareková
Andrea Madarasová
AM
Gecková
Peter
P
Kalanin
Peter
P
Jarcuska
Monika
M
Halánová
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D053299:Apolipoprotein B-100 / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D006178:Romani People / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018154:Slovakia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D053299:Apolipoprotein B-100; D015415:Biomarkers; D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol