P2932 - Circumstances of Diagnosis and Modes of Transmission of Chronic Hepatitis B Infection in Bangladesh: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study in Bangladesh

Sumona Islam, MBBS, MPH, MD¹, Amit Bari, MBBS, MPH, MD², Mushtaque Ahmed, MBBS, MD¹, Nowrin Tabassum, MBBS, MD³, Farnaz Nobi, MBBS, MD², Chanchal Kumar Ghosh, MBBS, MD³, Md. Razibul Alam, MBBS, MD³, Jesmin Sultana, MBBS, MD^4
1Bangladesh Medical College and Hospital, Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh; ²Kidney Foundation Hospital and Research Institute, Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh; ³Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh; ⁴Delta Medical College and Hospital, Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Introduction: Globally, chronic Hepatitis B infection is enjoying a decline in the recent years. Regardless, there were 1.2 million new infections and 1.1 million deaths from Hepatitis B in 2022. Although the prevalence in Bangladesh has declined from 7.15% to 4% from 2000 to 2017, it still remains above the global prevalence of 3.5%.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 4 tertiary centers in Bangladesh – Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Bangladesh Medical College Hospital, Delta Medical College Hospital and Kidney Foundation Hospital and Research Institute. Data was collected via in-person interview of inpatients and outpatients attending the departments of Gastroenterology, Medicine, Nephrology and Transfusion Medicine from 2020 to 2024. Analysis was done by SAS Studio.

Results: The sample size was 1217. The mean age was 41.8 (±13.8 years), 59.3% were male. 63.7% hailed from an urban location. Majority of the respondents were at least high school graduates (57%). The commonest occupations were business (23.6%), service (19.8%) and housewives (18.3%). The median monthly family income was about 240 USD.









When inquired about how they were first diagnosed with Hepatitis B, the most common response was during a health screening, usually for overseas jobs (29%). The other circumstances were during health check-ups prior to a surgical procedure or intervention (17%), screening after a family member was found to have Hepatitis B infection (14%), blood donation (13%), evaluation of causes of an established cirrhosis (13%), periodic screening in maintenance hemodialysis patients (11%), screening in pregnancy (2%) and others (1%).









Owing to the nature of the study, it was difficult to investigate the exact mode of transmission. The perceived mode of transmission was therefore reported. Majority of the people did not know how they might have been infected (58%). Family members were an important source of transmission; 16% from mother, 7% from spouse and 6% from other members. Hemodialysis (7%) and blood transfusion (3%) were the other important modes of perceived transmission.






Discussion: While screening for Hepatitis B has led to more diagnoses, the fact that most people are still unsure about their possible mode of transmission leads to us to believe that there is a need for much higher levels of awareness and vigilance regarding Hepatitis B in the community.



Disclosures:


Sumona Islam, MBBS, MPH, MD¹, Amit Bari, MBBS, MPH, MD², Mushtaque Ahmed, MBBS, MD¹, Nowrin Tabassum, MBBS, MD³, Farnaz Nobi, MBBS, MD², Chanchal Kumar Ghosh, MBBS, MD³, Md. Razibul Alam, MBBS, MD³, Jesmin Sultana, MBBS, MD⁴. P2932 - Circumstances of Diagnosis and Modes of Transmission of Chronic Hepatitis B Infection in Bangladesh: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study in Bangladesh, ACG 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting Abstracts. Philadelphia, PA: American College of Gastroenterology.