European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the study was to compare the prevalence of glucose intolerance in chronic HBV infection.
Materials and Methods: It was a retrospective cohort study conducted in the Department of Medicine, Nalanda Medical College & Hospital, Patna, Bihar, India, during the period of one year. A total of 250 CHB-infected patients who either attended medicine out-patient department or admitted to medicine ward between October 2021 and March 2022 were studied. The diagnosis of CHB was based on the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen positivity for more than 6 months. In all the patients, fasting plasma glucose and postprandial plasma glucose samples were obtained. HbA1C, serum alanine aminotransferase, serum aspartate aminotransferase, and α-fetoprotein were done for all the patients. Hepatitis B e antigen status, HBV DNA, and genotype were determined by a commercially available assay. Fibroscan (transient elastography) is performed in all the patients.
Results: The present study included 250 patients. A majority of patients were in the age group of 21–30 years accounted for 32% and age group of 31– 40 years accounted for 24%. Among the others, 22% were between 11 and 20 years, 16% between 41 and 50 years, and 6% between 51 and 60 years. Gender-wise distribution of male and female was 56% and 44%, respectively. The number of patients with impaired and diabetic range of FBS was 18% and 26%, respectively. Similarly, for PPBS, 65 (26%) patients had impaired range and 95 (38%) patients with diabetic   range. Glycated   hemoglobin   (HbA1C)   value ≥5.7 were present in 165 (66%) patients. The number of patients with fibrosis ≥12.5 kPa was 70; all of them (100%) had FBS ≥110, PPBS ≥140, and HbA1C ≥5.7. The number of genotype C patients was 170, in which 80/170 had FBS ≥110, 115/170 had PPBS ≥140, and 105/170 had HbA1C ≥5.7. The number of patients with genotype D was 80, in which 30/80 had FBS ≥110, 40/80 had PPBS ≥140, and 60/80 had HbA1C ≥5.7.
Conclusion: The prevalence of glucose intolerance was increased in patients with CHB infection. HBV carriers with impaired glucose tolerance are at high risk for end-stage liver disease, and therefore HBV carriers should be considered for surveillance programs that closely monitor liver enzymes and lipid profile and detect changes in ALT and TG levels.