Chronic blood-borne viral hepatitis in a tertiary hospital in Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia: epidemiology, liver enzyme correlations, and treatment outcomes.

BACKGROUND

In Al-Baha viral hepatitis in clinical settings has not been adequately investigated. This study examined chronic HBV and HCV infections and their treatment outcomes among patients at King Fahd Hospital in Al-Baha.

METHODS

Patients records were retrieved anonymously for clinical, demographic, virological and biochemical data from January 2019 to December 2022.

RESULTS

Of 148 patients (mean age was 49.6 ± 13.2; 56.8% males) 80.4% had HBV, 18.2% had HCV while 1.4% had dual infection. HBV viral loads correlated with ALT levels (r = 0.317, p = 0.001) while HCV viral loads did not. (r = 0.246, p = 0.23). Among the 148 cases, 144 were clinically classified as chronic HBV infections (n = 117), chronic HCV infections (n = 25), acute HCV infection (n = 1). The remaining cases were unclassified HCV infections (n = 4) or dual HBV/HCV infection (n = 1). Cirrhosis was observed in 6% of HBV cases and 18.5% of HCV cases. Viral load suppression with ALT levels either maintained at baseline or normalized in most cases occurred in 93.3% of HBV patients (n = 15) treated with tenofovir alafenamide and in all those (n = 8) treated with entecavir with generally unchanging ALT levels. All HCV patients (n = 16) achieved viral clearance after 12 weeks treatment course; sofosbuvir–daclatasvir (n = 14) was highly effective though 2 showed elevated post-treatment ALT.

CONCLUSIONS

Chronic HBV and HCV infections remain clinical challenge in Al-Baha. Current antivirals showed strong efficacy. Cirrhosis and post- treatment liver abnormalities underscores the need for continuing monitoring, improved prevention and broadened hepatitis health care.