The Dual Burden of Hepatitis B and C Among Drug Users in Asia: The First Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality among drug users in Asia. This study systematically reviews and analyzes the pooled prevalence of HBV and HCV, considering geographic and methodological variations. A meta-analysis following PRISM...
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2025-04-01
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| author | Ali A. Rabaan Kizito E. Bello Zaheda Radwan Amal K. Hassouneh Hayam A. Alrasheed Jawaher Alotaibi Bashayer Basrana Ali A. Zaidan Mohammed A. Garout Tasneem I. Zaidan Kawthar Amur Al Amri Sana A. Alshaikh Kawthar Haider Al Alawi Razi A. Alalqam Huseyin Tombuloglu Nabiha A. Bouafia |
| author_facet | Ali A. Rabaan Kizito E. Bello Zaheda Radwan Amal K. Hassouneh Hayam A. Alrasheed Jawaher Alotaibi Bashayer Basrana Ali A. Zaidan Mohammed A. Garout Tasneem I. Zaidan Kawthar Amur Al Amri Sana A. Alshaikh Kawthar Haider Al Alawi Razi A. Alalqam Huseyin Tombuloglu Nabiha A. Bouafia |
| author_sort | Ali A. Rabaan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality among drug users in Asia. This study systematically reviews and analyzes the pooled prevalence of HBV and HCV, considering geographic and methodological variations. A meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines included data from PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar on studies on HBV or HCV or a combination of both within Asia. A random-effects model estimated pooled prevalence, with subgroup analyses by region, study design, diagnostic method, and publication year. A total of 112 studies were analyzed. The pooled HBV prevalence among drug users was 14.3% (95% CI: 11.5–17.6), highest in Malaysia (28.7%) and Vietnam (26.6%). HCV prevalence was 58.6% (95% CI: 54.0–63.0), with the highest rates in Vietnam (63.5%) and China (62.9%). Retrospective studies reported a higher prevalence than cross-sectional ones. The use of ELISA for initial screening followed up by PCR reduced heterogeneity, improving diagnostic accuracy. HBV prevalence declined after 2010, while HCV rates remained persistently high. The high burden of HBV and HCV among drug users in Asia underscores an urgent public health concern. Targeted interventions, including vaccination, harm reduction strategies, and improved access to antiviral treatments, are essential to curbing transmission and enhancing health outcomes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5d147bf6ca464568aa82e57642e6927e |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj-art-5d147bf6ca464568aa82e57642e6927e2025-08-20T02:18:15ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172025-04-0114436010.3390/pathogens14040360The Dual Burden of Hepatitis B and C Among Drug Users in Asia: The First Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisAli A. Rabaan0Kizito E. Bello1Zaheda Radwan2Amal K. Hassouneh3Hayam A. Alrasheed4Jawaher Alotaibi5Bashayer Basrana6Ali A. Zaidan7Mohammed A. Garout8Tasneem I. Zaidan9Kawthar Amur Al Amri10Sana A. Alshaikh11Kawthar Haider Al Alawi12Razi A. Alalqam13Huseyin Tombuloglu14Nabiha A. Bouafia15Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran 31311, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Microbiology, Kogi State (Prince Abubakar Audu) University, Anyigba 10008, NigeriaMedical Laboratory Department, Mohammed Al-Mana College for Medical Sciences, Dammam 34222, Saudi ArabiaClinical Pharmacy Department, King Saud Medical City, Riyadh 11362, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh 11671, Saudi ArabiaInfectious Diseases Unit, Department of Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh 11564, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Infectious Disease, King Abdullah Medical Complex, Jeddah 6725, Saudi ArabiaGastroenterology Department, King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital, Jeddah 23831, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Community Medicine and Health Care for Pilgrims, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi ArabiaPediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Pediatric Department, King Abdulaziz Hospital, Jeddah 23831, Saudi ArabiaInfection and Control Department, Armed Forces Hospital, Azaibah 130, OmanDiagnostic Virology Laboratory, Maternity and Children Hospital, Eastern Health Cluster, Dammam 32253, Saudi ArabiaNursing Department of Vaccine Clinic, Hospital: Al Jamaeen Primary Health Care, Dammam 32467, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons, D02 YN77 Dublin, IrelandDepartment of Genetics Research, Institute for Research and Medical Consultations (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 34221, Saudi ArabiaInfection Prevention and Control Centre of Excellence, Prince Sultan Medical Military City, Riyadh 12233, Saudi ArabiaHepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality among drug users in Asia. This study systematically reviews and analyzes the pooled prevalence of HBV and HCV, considering geographic and methodological variations. A meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines included data from PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar on studies on HBV or HCV or a combination of both within Asia. A random-effects model estimated pooled prevalence, with subgroup analyses by region, study design, diagnostic method, and publication year. A total of 112 studies were analyzed. The pooled HBV prevalence among drug users was 14.3% (95% CI: 11.5–17.6), highest in Malaysia (28.7%) and Vietnam (26.6%). HCV prevalence was 58.6% (95% CI: 54.0–63.0), with the highest rates in Vietnam (63.5%) and China (62.9%). Retrospective studies reported a higher prevalence than cross-sectional ones. The use of ELISA for initial screening followed up by PCR reduced heterogeneity, improving diagnostic accuracy. HBV prevalence declined after 2010, while HCV rates remained persistently high. The high burden of HBV and HCV among drug users in Asia underscores an urgent public health concern. Targeted interventions, including vaccination, harm reduction strategies, and improved access to antiviral treatments, are essential to curbing transmission and enhancing health outcomes.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/4/360Hepatitis BHepatitis Cdrug usersprevalencesystematic reviewmeta-analysis |
| spellingShingle | Ali A. Rabaan Kizito E. Bello Zaheda Radwan Amal K. Hassouneh Hayam A. Alrasheed Jawaher Alotaibi Bashayer Basrana Ali A. Zaidan Mohammed A. Garout Tasneem I. Zaidan Kawthar Amur Al Amri Sana A. Alshaikh Kawthar Haider Al Alawi Razi A. Alalqam Huseyin Tombuloglu Nabiha A. Bouafia The Dual Burden of Hepatitis B and C Among Drug Users in Asia: The First Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Pathogens Hepatitis B Hepatitis C drug users prevalence systematic review meta-analysis |
| title | The Dual Burden of Hepatitis B and C Among Drug Users in Asia: The First Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis |
| title_full | The Dual Burden of Hepatitis B and C Among Drug Users in Asia: The First Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis |
| title_fullStr | The Dual Burden of Hepatitis B and C Among Drug Users in Asia: The First Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Dual Burden of Hepatitis B and C Among Drug Users in Asia: The First Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis |
| title_short | The Dual Burden of Hepatitis B and C Among Drug Users in Asia: The First Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis |
| title_sort | dual burden of hepatitis b and c among drug users in asia the first systematic review and meta analysis |
| topic | Hepatitis B Hepatitis C drug users prevalence systematic review meta-analysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/4/360 |
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