Hepatitis A and B immunity and vaccination in chronic hepatitis B and C patients in a large United States cohort

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-15-2015

Publication Title

Clinical Infectious Diseases

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis A and B vaccines are effective in preventing superinfection and sequelae in patients with chronic hepatitis B or C. We describe immunity and vaccination against hepatitis A and B in chronic hepatitis patients from the US Chronic Hepatitis Cohort Study.

METHODS: We identified chronic hepatitis B and C patients with healthcare utilization during 2006-2008 and 12 months of enrollment. We used electronic laboratory records to determine immunity and medical and billing records for vaccination history. Immunity against hepatitis A was defined by positive hepatitis A antibody or documented vaccination. Immunity against hepatitis B was defined as hepatitis B surface antibody level ≥10 mIU/mL or core antibody positive, or by documented vaccination.

RESULTS: Among 1635 chronic hepatitis B patients, 978 (59.8%) were immune or vaccinated against hepatitis A, 122 (7.5%) had negative hepatitis A antibody tests, and 535 (32.7%) had no testing or vaccination record. Among 5328 chronic hepatitis C patients, 2998 (56.3%) were immune or vaccinated against hepatitis A, 659 (12.4%) had negative hepatitis A antibody tests, and 1671 (31.4%) had no testing or vaccination record. Additionally, 3150 (59.1%) chronic hepatitis C patients were immune or vaccinated against hepatitis B, 1003 (18.8%) had a negative test result, and 1175 (22.1%) were neither tested for nor vaccinated against hepatitis B.

CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 40% of chronic hepatitis B and C patients are susceptible to or have no documented immunity or vaccination against hepatitis A or hepatitis B. Clinicians should consider antibody testing and vaccination for this vulnerable population.

Medical Subject Headings

Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cohort Studies; Hepatitis A; Hepatitis A Antibodies; Hepatitis A Vaccines; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B Antibodies; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; Hepatitis B Vaccines; Hepatitis B, Chronic; Hepatitis C, Chronic; Humans; Medical Records; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; United States; Vaccination; Young Adult

PubMed ID

25371489

Volume

60

Issue

4

First Page

514

Last Page

522

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