Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C in Patients Hospitalized in Palliative Care Service.

OBJECTIVES

Patients receiving palliative care often have complex comorbidities and frequent healthcare exposure, which may place them at risk for blood-borne infections such as hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). However, data on the seroprevalence and prognostic impact of these infections in palliative populations remain limited. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of HBV and HCV markers in patients hospitalized in a palliative care unit and to assess their association with mortality.

METHODS

This retrospective study conducted on 545 adult patients a tertiary palliative care unit between 2018 and 2024. Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, nutritional support, mobility, serological markers (HBsAg, anti-HBs, and anti-HCV), and outcomes were extracted from hospital records.

RESULTS

The mean age of patients was 76.3±15.1 years, and 52.8% were female. Malignancy was the most common comorbidity (50.5%), followed by infectious diseases (31.6%) and cardiovascular conditions. HBsAg positivity was identified in 0.6% of patients, anti-HBs in 31.2%, and anti-HCV in 0.2%. During hospitalization, 39.1% of patients died. Multivariate analysis revealed that chronic renal failure (HR=1.46, p=0.023), cardiac disease (HR= 3.11, p<0.001), immobility (HR=4.14, p<0.001), and HBsAg positivity (HR=6.91, p<0.001) were independent predictors of mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

While the seroprevalence of active HBV and HCV infection was low in this palliative cohort, HBsAg positivity was associated with a significantly higher risk of mortality. The high proportion of patients lacking HBV immunity also highlights the need for strengthened infection control measures.