Changes in lipid and hematological indices among Saudi patients with chronic hepatitis B in the Makkah region: A case-control study

Abstract Background: Infection with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), which leads to severe liver-related mortality and morbidity, is a global public health challenge that needs to be considered. It isrelated to a wide variety of extrahepatic manifestations. The purpose of this study was to investigate a variety of lipid and hematologic abnormalities that are associated with CHB patients. Method: In this study, 226 patients with CHB infection were compared with an equal sample of non-HBV individuals between 2015 and 2021. Available medical records for CHB patients and non-HBV individuals were collected from the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs-Western Region (MNGHA-WR) database. The chi-square test was used to analyse categorical data, while the t test was used to assess numeric variables with a significant p value (P<0.005). Results: By comparing CHB patients and non-HBV individuals, a similar sex was observed in both groups (P=0.51), while non-HBV individuals were significantly older than CHB patients were. Moreover, compared with non-HBV individuals, CHB patients had lower HDL, TC, TG, WBC, RBC, PLT, Hgb, and MCHC levels as well as lower HCT and MCV than did non-HBV individuals (P <0.005). These correlations, except for those for TC and TG, persist significantly after age and sex adjustment. Conclusion: Compared with non-HBV individuals, CHB patients had irregular lipid and hematologic indices.