Lygoura, VasilikiGabeta, StellaRigopoulou, Eirini I.Galanis, KonstantinosDalekos, George N.Gatselis, Nikolaos K.Zachou, KalliopiBackground The epidemiology of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has changed in recent years as a result of various factors. Our aim was to assess the epidemiological characteristics and the evolution of the HBV infection in a well-defined area of Greece. Method Prospectively collected data from 1910 consecutive patients (60.8% male, age: 50.1 years) with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) followed from 1999-2016 were analyzed. Results Of the patients evaluated, 90.6% were of Greek and 8% of Albanian origin. Vertical/ intrafamilial transmission during early childhood (56.8%) and traditional practices (17.2%) were the most common infection sources. Several areas with higher rates of CHB were identified. At first evaluation, 68.8% had chronic infection, 21.7% chronic hepatitis, 6.1% cirrhosis and 3.4% hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Comparison between 2 periods (1999-2010 and 2011-2016) revealed older age and longer disease duration at first presentation (P<0.001 for both) to be more common during 2011-2016, while patients of foreign nationality doubled during this period. There was a trend towards more advanced disease stage at first assessment during 2011-2016. Patients after 2011 had lower rates of virological and biochemical breakthrough (P<0.001 for both) during treatment with new antivirals. In addition, fewer patients progressed to cirrhosis (P=0.02) and HCC (P=0.04). Conclusions CHB continues to be a major health problem in Central Greece, as highlighted by the preservation of high prevalence areas and a tendency towards an increase of chronic liver disease burden longitudinally. Our data highlight the need for scaling-up prevention and treatment strategies, especially in at-risk populations. Keywords Hepatitis B, epidemiology, natural history, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma Ann Gastroenterol 2021; 34 (3): 431-437text/htmlapplication/pdfhttp://www.annalsgastro.gr/index.php/annalsgastro/article/view/5687engHellenic Society of GastroenterologyCopyright (c) 2021 Annals of Gastroenterology1792-74631108-7471Annals of Gastroenterology; Volume 34, No 3 (2021); 431The changing epidemiology of hepatitis B in Greeceinfo:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion2021-05-05Δημοσίευση σε περιοδικόPublication in journalΓαστροεντερολογίαGastroenterologyisi -Gastroenterology & Hepatology covers resources on the anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and pathology of the digestive system. This category includes specific resources on the prognosis and treatment of digestive diseases; stomach ulcers; metabolic, genetic, infectious and chemically induced diseases of the liver; colitis; diseases of the pancreas and diseases of the rectum.Επιστημονικό άρθροScientific articleΕλληνική Γαστροεντερολογική ΕταιρίαGreek Aggregator OpenArchives.gr | National Documentation Centre (EKT)other