Taiwan study reveals link between hepatitis B, fatty liver disease, and mortality rate
台灣研究揭露B型肝炎、脂肪肝與死亡率之間的關聯
| Hepatitis B patients with metabolic dysfunction–associated fatty liver disease face higher risk of death
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A study conducted by National Taiwan University Hospital has uncovered a link between hepatitis B, fatty liver disease, and mortality rates. The research reveals that individuals with both hepatitis B and metabolic dysfunction–associated fatty liver disease face a significantly higher risk of death. In contrast, hepatitis B patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease alone showed a decrease in mortality rates, per CNA. The study followed over 10,000 hepatitis B patients for 15 years, with 8,718 of them also diagnosed with fatty liver disease. The findings indicate that those with both hepatitis B and metabolic disorders face higher mortality rates and a greater risk of developing cancer. Hepatitis is the inflammation and necrosis of liver cells caused by viral infections, medications, or chemicals. Hepatitis B is a type of hepatitis caused by the hepatitis B virus, per Cleveland Clinic and China Medical University Hospital. HBV affects over 300 million people worldwide and is the leading cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer. In Taiwan, there are an estimated 1.7 to 2 million carriers of HBV. Fatty liver disease (FLD) can be categorized into: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) Metabolic dysfunction–associated liver disease (MASLD) Patients with FLD who exhibit any of the following risk factors are diagnosed with MASLD: Overweight Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes High blood pressure Triglycerides ≥ 150 mg/dL Low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels: ≤ 40 mg/dL for men, ≤ 50 mg/dL for women While most hepatitis B infections are short-lived, some individuals develop a chronic infection, which can cause severe, long-term liver damage. Although there is currently no cure, it is preventable through vaccination. Hepatitis B patients with metabolic disorders, such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, were found to have significantly higher mortality rates. The risk of death increased progressively with the number of metabolic abnormalities present. When three or more metabolic diseases were combined, the risk of death more than doubled. Diabetes was identified as the most significant risk factor among these metabolic disorders. Interestingly, the study also found that hepatitis B patients with only NAFLD — without additional conditions like diabetes, hypertension, or obesity — experienced a reduction in their risk of death by about 50%. It is important to note that more than 90% of hepatitis B patients with FLD also have other metabolic disorders. Therefore, deliberately inducing fatty liver to reduce mortality is not recommended. |
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| Charlotte Lee, Taiwan News, Staff Writer | |
| 2025-02-12 |
