Incidence of Osteopenia or Osteoporosis in Asian Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B

Background

In an aging population, patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) may face a higher risk of osteopenia, osteoporosis, or fractures. We investigated the epidemiology and risk factors associated with osteopenia or osteoporosis in patients with CHB.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included patients ≥ 19 years who underwent bone mineral density (BMD) testing ≥ 2 times between 2005 and 2021 at Severance Hospital, Seoul, South Korea. Demographic factors and comorbidities for patients with or without CHB were matched based on a 1:4 ratio. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios to assess osteopenia or osteoporosis risk.

Results

A total of 275 patients with CHB and 7868 patients without CHB who had normal BMD were analyzed. The incidence of osteopenia or osteoporosis in patients with and without CHB was 25.8% and 28.7%, respectively. After propensity score matching, in the second BMD test, 73.8%, 24.7%, and 1.5% of patients with CHB and 70.7%, 26.5%, and 2.8% of patients without CHB had normal BMD, osteopenia, and osteoporosis, respectively. Risk factors for osteopenia or osteoporosis in these patients were age, body mass index < 25, chronic kidney disease, and proton pump inhibitor use. There were no significant differences in cumulative hazard for patients with or without CHB.

Conclusions

Patients with or without CHB showed similar risks of osteopenia or osteoporosis. In addition to providing closer monitoring for patients with CHB with greater bone disease risk, further studies of bone disease in these patients may help to understand the factors that impact bone health.