Prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B virus among voluntary blood donors, Guangzhou from 2011 to 2020

Abstract

Objective To assess the trend of hepatitis B virus (HBV) prevalence and associated risk factors among voluntary blood donors in Guangzhou area from 2011 to 2020, and to explore the impact of hepatitis B vaccination in neonates on the risk of HBV infection. Methods Blood samples of 2 624 434 voluntary blood donors from 2011 to 2020 in Guangzhou were tested by HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) reagents twice and nucleic acid test (NAT) reagent once. Samples reactive to ELISA twice, or ELISA once + NAT were considered as HBV infection. The gender, age, ethnicity and region of HBV infected blood donors were collected, and the incidence of HBV infection in blood donors born before and after 1992 (when HBV vaccination was conducted in neonates) was compared. The trend and risk factors of HBV infection in blood donors in Guangzhou from 2011 to 2020 were analyzed. Results An overall HBV prevalence of 0.75% was found in voluntary blood donors in Guangzhou area from 2010 to 2020, showing an overall downward trend(P0.05), but both were significantly higher than that in Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and foreign countries (P<0.05). HBV prevalence in Han nationality donors was significantly higher than the ethnic minority donors (P<0.05). Gender, age, ethnicity and birth vaccination are the main risk factors for HBV infection among blood donors. Conclusion The overall HBV prevalence among voluntary blood donors in Guangzhou area from 2011 to 2020 has shown a decreasing trend, and differences have been found in gender, age, region, ethnicity and birth vaccination, which is helpful to formulate targeted recruitment strategies, thus reducing the risk of transfusion transmitted HBV.

Keywords

• hbv
• hepatitis b vaccine
• voluntary blood donors
• epidemiologic characteristics
• risk factors