Resolved HBV infection is an independent risk factor for enhanced systemic inflammatory responses in COVID-19 patients.

PURPOSE: To investigate the systemic inflammatory responses and outcomes in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with resolved hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection or non-HBV infection.

METHODS

This single-center, retrospective study was conducted in Tongji Hospital of Wuhan, China, from 20 January 2020 to 30 March 2020. A total of 215 COVID-19 cases with available test results were included. Demographic and clinical characteristics, and results of laboratory test results, were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

Of the 215 included patients, the numbers of patients with current HBV infection, resolved HBV infection, and non-HBV infection were 15, 134, and 66, respectively. Inflammatory biomarkers, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), and ferritin, were significantly elevated in the resolved HBV infection group, as well pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and IL-8. Resolved HBV infection was independently associated with elevated proinflammatory cytokines. Patients with resolved HBV infection (59.7%) were more likely to develop into a severe state compared to patients with current HBV infection (46.7%) and non-HBV infection (43.9%).

CONCLUSION

Resolved HBV infection is an independent risk factor for patients with COVID-19. COVID-19 patients with resolved HBV infection are more likely to have enhanced systemic inflammatory responses and worse prognoses than those with non-HBV infection.