Abstract
BackgroundHepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is the most common cause of acute viral hepatitis worldwide and one of the main causes of death in the last decade, causing chronic hepatitis and liver failure in some populations. The aging population and obesity are two major factors threatening human health. Therefore, we want to understand the relationship between these two groups and HEV infection.ObjectivesThe study aimed to analyze the epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory features of HEV infection and evaluate probable high-risk factors for disease progression and the current diagnostic strategies of hepatitis E infection.Study DesignPatients diagnosed with acute hepatitis E with symptoms and liver dysfunction were enrolled. For statistical analysis, clinical features and laboratory findings were collected between the elderly and non-elderly and HEV+ fatty liver disease (FLD) groups. Statistical analysis was performed using Excel and the platform VassarStats, and statistical significance was taken as P < 0.05.ResultsJaundice and the bilirubin peak were significantly deeper, the duration of hospitalization was significantly longer, and the proportion of ascites and liver failure was significantly higher in the elderly group. The aging population is one of the risk factors of severe hepatitis E. Hepatitis E becomes more serious in the HEV + FLD group, although the results did not reach statistical significance.ConclusionThe aging and FLD were suggested to aggravate HEV infection. However, the diagnosis of HEV infection remains a challenge. A prospective study with sufficient sample size is needed to confirm this conclusion.
Highlights
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the most common cause of acute viral hepatitis worldwide and represents a major global health problem (European Association for the Study of the Liver, 2018)
We identified 161 patients with either anti-HEV-IgM or HEV RNA who were positive in both outpatient and inpatient departments, and two patients were eliminated to consider false positives of anti-HEV-IgM
Hepatitis E is sporadic throughout the year, more in March, May, and September (Figure 5), but the results may be inaccurate due to the data lacking from November to December 2021
Summary
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the most common cause of acute viral hepatitis worldwide and represents a major global health problem (European Association for the Study of the Liver, 2018). According to the China Centers for Disease Control (CDC), viral hepatitis is still the leading infectious disease and one of the main causes of death in this decade. Among those acute hepatitis, hepatitis A and unclassified hepatitis showed a decreasing trend, while hepatitis E infection remained high (Figure 1). Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is the most common cause of acute viral hepatitis worldwide and one of the main causes of death in the last decade, causing chronic hepatitis and liver failure in some populations. We want to understand the relationship between these two groups and HEV infection
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