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De Brier N, Koc ÖM, De Buck E, Muylaert A, Nevens F, Vanbrabant M, Vandeloo J, Van Remoortel H, Robaeys G, Compernolle V. Hepatitis B virus prevalence in first-time blood donors in Flanders, Belgium: Impact of universal vaccination and migration. Transfusion 2021; 61:2125-2136. [PMID: 33955570 DOI: 10.1111/trf.16431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transfusion-transmissible infections such as hepatitis B virus (HBV) remain a major concern for the safety of blood transfusion. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the trend of HBV prevalence and associated risk factors among a first-time donor population in a low endemic country. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Between 2010 and 2018, blood samples were collected from first-time donors presented at donor collection sites of Belgian Red Cross-Flanders. They were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B core antibodies (anti-HBc), and HBV DNA, HIV and hepatitis virus C (HCV) antibodies and RNA, and syphilis antibodies. RESULTS A total of 211,331 first-time blood donors (43.7% males, median age 25 years) were analyzed. HBsAg prevalence decreased from 0.06% in 2010 to 0.05% in 2018 (p = .004) and this declining trend was accompanied by an increased number of donors in the HBV vaccinated birth cohort (p < .001). HBsAg prevalence was 0.33% in foreign-born donors and 0.02% in Belgian natives (p < .001). Multivariate risk profiling showed that anti-HBc positivity was significantly associated with mainly foreign-born donors (odds ratio [OR] = 9.24) but also with older age (OR = 1.06), male gender (OR = 1.32), year of blood donation (OR = 0.94), and co-infections with HCV (OR = 4.31) or syphilis (OR = 4.91). DISCUSSION The decreasing trend in HBV prevalence could mainly be explained by the introduction of the universal HBV vaccination. Being born in endemic areas was the most important predictor for HBV infection while the co-infections with syphilis suggest unreported sexual risk contacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niels De Brier
- Centre for Evidence-Based Practice, Belgian Red Cross, Mechelen, Belgium
| | - Özgür M Koc
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Genk, Belgium.,Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium.,Department of Medical Microbiology, School of NUTRIM, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Emmy De Buck
- Centre for Evidence-Based Practice, Belgian Red Cross, Mechelen, Belgium.,Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - An Muylaert
- Blood Service, Belgian Red Cross, Mechelen, Belgium
| | - Frederik Nevens
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospitals KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | | | - Hans Van Remoortel
- Centre for Evidence-Based Practice, Belgian Red Cross, Mechelen, Belgium
| | - Geert Robaeys
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Genk, Belgium.,Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium.,Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospitals KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Veerle Compernolle
- Blood Service, Belgian Red Cross, Mechelen, Belgium.,Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
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