Growing Awareness: Limited Testing and Screening Bias for Hepatitis Delta Virus in Utah 2000-2021

Matthew C Hesterman; Braden S Fallon; Keisa M Lynch; Melodie L Weller

doi:10.1093/infdis/jiae023

Growing Awareness: Limited Testing and Screening Bias for Hepatitis Delta Virus in Utah 2000-2021

J Infect Dis. 2024 Mar 8:jiae023. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiae023. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Matthew C Hesterman¹, Braden S Fallon¹, Keisa M Lynch², Melodie L Weller^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ School of Dentistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
² Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
³ Division of Pathology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.

PMID: 38457349
DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiae023

Abstract

Background: This study assessed the epidemiology of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) within the University of Utah UHealth health care system (2000-2021).

Methods: Analysis of HDV/HBV testing, diagnostic codes, liver enzymes, and comorbidities was performed.

Results: Among the 1962 HBV patients, only 22.2% underwent HDV testing, revealing an 8.3% positivity rate for HDV coinfections. This study observed a consistent increase in HBV and HDV cases, with higher HDV detection rates linked to increased testing. Limited HDV testing and potential screening biases were evident.

Discussion: Improved HDV testing and surveillance are crucial for early detection and implementation of targeted therapies.

Keywords: hepatitis B virus; hepatitis D virus; hepatitis delta virus.

Abstract

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