MO831: Hepatitis Virus Infection in End-Stage Kidney Disease Patients Treated by Haemodialysis in Romania After 5 Years of Active Antiviral Therapy, Revisited

Abstract

Abstract BACKGROUND AND AIMS After 5 years from the previous national prospective observational study and a modern antiviral program, we aimed to re-evaluate the prevalence of hepatitis virus infection and its impact in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients treated with haemodialysis (HD) in Romania. METHOD A total of 1516 ESKD patients (909 men and 608 women, median age 60.1 ± 12.9 years) treated with chronic HD in twelve centres from all the historical regions of Romania have been assigned to this study. Data regarding their HBs Ag and anti-HCV antibodies were recorded. RESULTS HBsAg was positive now in 5% (n = 76) patients and it was significantly lower than in 2015 (9.5%, n = 57), P = 0.0001, anti-HCV antibodies were detected in 11.5% (175) versus 27.3% (n = 164), P < 0.0001; and 1.5% (n = 24) versus 5% (n = 30) were positive for both HBV and HCV infection, P < 0.0001. When we split the cohort between the historical regions of Romania (Moldavia 426 patients, Muntenia 321 patients, Transylvania 769 patients), in Moldavia (Eastern Romania), the prevalence of both HBV and HCV infection was significantly lower than 2015 (4.2% versus 16.8%; P < 0.001, respectively for HCV 20% versus 42.9%; P < 0.0001). The prevalence of HBV infection in Muntenia region was 3.1% versus 9.9% in 2015 (P = 0.003), but Muntenia recorded a significant decrease in the prevalence of HCV infection in haemodialysis patients from 2015 until now (9.6% versus 36.4%, P < 0.001). Data from Transylvania are similar, there are no significant differences in terms of HBV infection (3.7% versus 4.7% in 2015; P = 0.455) but the prevalence of HCV infection is significantly <2015 (7.6% versus 13.9%; P = 0.001). CONCLUSION This study shows that the systematically nationwide applied measures for significant reduction of infection risk and antiviral therapy significantly decreased HV infection prevalence in HD patients in Romania.