Positive hepatitis B core antibody is associated with advanced fibrosis and mortality in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract

Objective Concomitant hepatitis B virus infection and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are relatively common, while little is known about the impact of anti-hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) on NAFLD individuals. We aimed to investigate the association of positive anti-HBc with advanced fibrosis and mortality in NAFLD. Methods We analyzed data from 3268 NAFLD participants who underwent abdominal ultrasonography during the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). The fibrosis 4 index (FIB-4) score >2.67, NAFLD fibrosis score >0.676, or aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index >1.5 were defined as advanced fibrosis. All-cause and cause-specific mortality were obtained from the NHANES III-linked follow-up file through 31 December 2015. Results A total of 242 (7.4%) patients had positive anti-HBc. Patients with positive anti-HBc had a higher percentage of advanced fibrosis than those with negative anti-HBc (12.2% vs. 5.8%). Positive anti-HBc was significantly associated with advanced fibrosis [adjusted odds ratio = 1.69, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.05–2.72]. During a median follow-up of 22 years, the cumulative all-cause and cancer-related mortalities were higher in participants with positive anti-HBc than in their counterparts (log-rank test P < 0.001). When demographic and metabolic risk factors were considered, NAFLD cases with positive anti-HBc had a significantly higher cancer-related mortality (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.54, 95% CI, 1.05–2.25). Conclusion Our findings suggested that NAFLD cases with positive anti-HBc had higher risks for liver fibrosis and long-term mortality, justifying the medical importance of testing anti-HBc in NAFLD patients.