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Cited by 92Hepatitis B Virus StudiesHepatitis C virus researchLiver Disease and Transplantation

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Prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus infection in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Open access
Im, Yu Ri, Jagdish, Rukmini, Leith, Damien, Kim, Jin Un, Yoshida, Kyoko, Majid, Amir, Ge, Yueqi, Ndow, Gibril, Shimakawa, Yusuke, Lemoine, Maud·2022·The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology
DOI 10.1016/s2468-1253(22)00201-1PMC PMC9630161
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Despite growing concerns about transmissibility and clinical impact, occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has received little attention in the hepatitis elimination agenda. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of occult HBV infection at a global and regional scale and in specific populations. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched the MEDLINE, Embase, Global Health, and Web of Science databases for articles published in any language between Jan 1, 2010, and Aug 14, 2019. We included original articles and conference abstracts of any study design that reported the proportion of HBsAg-negative adults (aged ≥18 years) who are positive for HBV DNA (ie, people with occult HBV infection). The prevalence of occult HBV infection was pooled, using the DerSimonian-Laird random-effects model, in the general population and specific groups defined by the type of study participants (blood donors; other low-risk populations; high-risk populations; and people with advanced chronic liver disease), and stratified by HBV endemicity in each country. We also assessed the performance of anti-HBc as an alternative biomarker to detect occult HBV infection. The study was registered with PROSPERO, CRD42019115490. FINDINGS: 305 of 3962 articles were eligible, allowing a meta-analysis of 140 521 993 individuals tested for HBV DNA. Overall, only two studies evaluated occult HBV infection in the general population, precluding unbiased global and regional estimates of occult HBV infection prevalence. In blood donors, occult HBV infection prevalence mirrored HBV endemicity: 0·06% (95% CI 0·00-0·26) in low-endemicity countries, 0·12% (0·04-0·23) in intermediate-endemicity countries, and 0·98% (0·44-1·72), in high-endemicity countries (p=0·0012). In high-risk groups, occult HBV infection prevalence was substantial, irrespective of endemicity: 5·5% (95% CI 2·9-8·7) in low-endemicity countries, 5·2% (2·5-8·6) in intermediate-endemicity countries, and 12·0% (3·4-24·7) in high-endemicity countries. The pooled sensitivity of anti-HBc to identify occult HBV infection was 77% (95% CI 62-88) and its specificity was 76% (68-83). INTERPRETATION: A substantial proportion of people carry occult HBV infection, especially among high-risk groups across the globe and people living in highly endemic countries. Occult HBV infection should be part of the global viral hepatitis elimination strategy. FUNDING: None.

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Figure 1 Study selection HBV=hepatitis B virus. OBI=occult HBV infection.
Figure 1 Study selection HBV=hepatitis B virus. OBI=occult HBV infection.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 2 Prevalence of occult HBV infection by type of study population and country endemicity Low-risk populations include the general population, healthy health-care workers, and pregnant women; high-risk populations include patients living with HIV, patients infected with hepatitis C virus, or patients on haemodialysis. HBV=hepatitis B virus.
Figure 2 Prevalence of occult HBV infection by type of study population and country endemicity Low-risk populations include the general population, healthy health-care workers, and pregnant women; high-risk populations include patients living with HIV, patients infected with hepatitis C virus, or patients on haemodialysis. HBV=hepatitis B virus.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 3 Pooled sensitivity and specificity of anti-HBc to indicate the presence of occult HBV infection HBV=hepatitis B virus.
Figure 3 Pooled sensitivity and specificity of anti-HBc to indicate the presence of occult HBV infection HBV=hepatitis B virus.CC BY · PubMed Central

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Research works printed but not linked: 27

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Metadata

Authors
Im, Y. R., Jagdish, R., Leith, D., Kim, J. U., Yoshida, K., Majid, A., Ge, Y., Ndow, G., Shimakawa, Y., & Lemoine, M.
Affiliations
  • Imperial College London (GB)
  • Chelsea and Westminster Hospital (GB)
  • Glasgow Royal Infirmary (GB)
  • The Royal Free Hospital (GB)
  • Tokyo Medical and Dental University (JP)
  • West Middlesex University Hospital (GB)
  • Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
  • London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (GB)
  • Institut Pasteur (FR)
Corresponding author
Lemoine, Maud
ORCID
Venue
The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2022-10
Volume
7
Issue
10
Pages
932-942
ISSN
  • 2468-1156 (ISSN-L)
  • 2468-1253
DOI
10.1016/s2468-1253(22)00201-1
PMC
PMC9630161
OpenAlex
W4291286539
Cited by
92
References
2
Citations by year
2026: 25 · 2025: 26 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 2
FWCI
2.66
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • The Lancet. Gastroenterology & hepatology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Discovery Research Portal (University of Dundee) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • LSHTM Research Online (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine) (acceptedVersion)
  • HAL (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Wellcome Trust
  • Medical Research Council
  • Gilead Sciences
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Hepatitis B Virus Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Hepatology › Hepatitis C virus research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Hepatology › Liver Disease and Transplantation
Keywords
occult hepatitis B infection, HBV DNA, HBsAg-negative, prevalence, blood donors, HBV endemicity, anti-HBc, HBV reactivation, chronic liver disease, HBV elimination, vulnerable populations, hepatitis B screening, HBV genotypes, HBV genotyping
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, DNA, Viral, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis B Antibodies, Hepatitis B virus, Humans, Prevalence, Hepatitis B, Chronic

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