HBsAg seroprevalance and affecting factors in patients attending Aydin ​​Adnan Menderes University Emergency Department

Aim and Introduction: Liver infection caused by hepatitis B is a common disease worldwide which increases mortality. Emergency wards are the first place of application for acute diseases and for most patients in the society. The HBsAg seroprevalence of patients admitted to the emergency department may reflect community serostatus. In our study, it was aimed to screen the patients admitted to the Emergency Department for viral hepatitis B and to reveal the relationship between HBsAg seroprevalence and the affecting factors. Material and Method: Our study was conducted retrospectively by examining the records of all patients who applied to the Emergency Department of Adnan Menderes University Medical Faculty Hospital between 01.01.2019 and 01.01.2020 for various reasons and had their HBsAg checked. The data of the study were determined by demographic characteristics of the patient (age, gender, health insurance, residence), reason for coming to the emergency department, laboratory parameters of the patient (ALT, AST, HBsAg, Anti-HBs, Anti-HCV and Anti-HIV), current hepatitis status of the patient, chronic diseases, whether an operation or operation was performed in the emergency department was recorded. The data of the study were analyzed with the SPSS-25 program using descriptive statistics and chi-square test. Results: The total number of applications to the Emergency Department was 66237. Of these, 693 patients whose HBsAg markers were checked were included in the study, 57.3% (n=397) of the patients were male and the mean age was 53.8±21.6 (minimum:4, maximum:99). 58.6% (n=405) of the patients lived in the urban area, and 95.5% (n=662) had health insurance. 41.1% (n=288) of the admitted patients had at least one chronic disease. The HBsAg seroprevalence of those included in the study was 3.3%. The highest prevalence of HBsAg seropositivity was recorded in the 41-60 age group with a rate of 5.2%. Anti-HBs seroprevalence was 44.6% (n=311), Anti-HCV seroprevalence was 0.6% (n=4) and Anti-HIV was 0.3% (n=3). When their immune status was evaluated, it was found that 51% (n=346) of the patients did not have protection against HBV, and 45% (n=309) had protection against HBV (through vaccination or having the disease). Inactive carrier state, acute or chronic HBV infection was present in 4% (n=21) of the patients. No significant correlation was found between HBsAg positivity and independent variables such as age, gender and place of residence (p<0.05). Lower Anti-HBs was statistically significant as a risk factor for Hepatitis b infection (p=0,003) Sonuç: The prevalence of hepatitis B in our study is at an intermediate epidemic level. Testing at every opportunity even in the emergency service is a suitable strategy for the prevention and control of hepatitis B. The prevalence of hepatitis B is at an intermediate epidemic level in the studied population. The findings are similar to other available data in our region. This result have also identified low Anti-HBs has the most significant risk for HBsAg seropositivity. More expanded and comprehensive study should be carried out in emergency service in order to understand the risk of Hepatitis B infection while further strengthening preventive measures against the disease. Keywords: HBsAg, Anti-HBs, HCV, HIV.