Chronic Hepatitis B and Muscle Mass: Age‐Specific Associations in a Taiwanese Cohort

Introduction Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remains a public health concern in Taiwan. While chronic liver disease is known to affect muscle mass, the association between CHB and muscle mass is not fully understood. This study investigated the relationship between CHB and appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) in older adults. Methods This cross‐sectional study included 2917 participants undergoing check‐ups at a tertiary hospital in Taiwan. Participants were stratified into two age groups (< 50 years and ≥ 50 years). Group comparisons were performed using Chi‐square tests and Student's t ‐tests. Multivariate linear regression analysis assessed associations between CHB and ASM. Results Across the 2917 participants (mean age = 49.4 ± 12.0 years, 50.2% male), 10.5% had CHB. Among those ≥ 50 years old, CHB was significantly associated with ASM ( ß = −0.027, p = 0.018). Age ( ß = −0.082), male sex ( ß = 0.584), body mass index (BMI) ( ß = 0.540), total bilirubin ( ß = 0.043), tea consumption ( ß = 0.025), and regular exercise ( ß = 0.044) were also associated with ASM. In participants < 50 years old, no significant association was observed between CHB and ASM ( ß = 0.004, p = 0.701); significant associations included age ( ß = −0.031), male sex ( ß = 0.495), BMI ( ß = 0.595), hemoglobin ( ß = 0.039), and regular exercise ( ß = 0.061). Conclusions CHB is independently associated with reduced muscle mass in those 50 years and older. Further studies are needed to investigate CHB's association with muscle function and to establish preventative strategies for older individuals with CHB.