title: The association of exposure to hepatitis B and C viruses with lung function and respiratory disease: a population based study from the NHANES III database.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Globally, 500 million people are chronically infected with Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV). While these viruses are notorious for their detrimental effect on the liver they are also known to affect multiple organs in the body including the lungs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate if exposure to HBV and HCV is associated with lung function and respiratory diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) was analysed using multiple linear regressions to investigate the association between exposure to HBV and HCV with the various measures of lung function, while multiple logistic regressions were used to evaluate the association with the respiratory diseases asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Exposure to HCV was significantly associated with an increase in Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 s, FEV1 (Coef: 97.94 ml, 95% CI: 38.87 to 157.01) and Full Vital Capacity, FVC (Coef: 90 ml, 95% CI: 14.50 to 166.24). Individuals who had been exposed to both HBV and HCV also had a significantly higher FEV1 (Coef: 145.82, CI: 60.68 to 230.94) and FVC (Coef: 195.09, CI: 78.91 to 311.26). There was also a significant association between exposure to HBV and asthma (OR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.58). These associations were no longer significant after additionally adjusting for cocaine and marijuana use as well as poverty income ratio.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our research implies that hepatotropic viruses may affect the respiratory system, but more work at a population level is needed to further explore these associations.
authors.affiliation: School of Community Health Sciences, Division of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Nottingham, Clinical Sciences Building, City Hospital, Nottingham NG51PB, United Kingdom. Electronic address: liyen.goh@nhs.net.
authors.forename: Li Yen
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Goh
authors.affiliation: School of Community Health Sciences, Division of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Nottingham, Clinical Sciences Building, City Hospital, Nottingham NG51PB, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Card
authors.affiliation: School of Community Health Sciences, Division of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Nottingham, Clinical Sciences Building, City Hospital, Nottingham NG51PB, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Fogarty@nottingham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Andrew W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Fogarty
authors.affiliation: School of Community Health Sciences, Division of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Nottingham, Clinical Sciences Building, City Hospital, Nottingham NG51PB, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Tricia.Mckeever@nottingham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Tricia M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: McKeever
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Asthma; COPD; FEV(1); FVC; Hepatitis B and C virus; Lung function