EPIDEMIOLOGICAL AND HUMANISTIC BURDEN OF CHRONIC HEPATITIS B ACROSS FOUR HIGH-BURDEN COUNTRIES IN ASIA: A TARGETED LITERATURE REVIEW
Author(s)
Samykya Yanamala, MPT1, Manasa Vishnubhotla, M. Pharm1, Mahendra Kumar Rai, PhD2.
1Trinity Life Sciences, Mumbai, India, 2Trinity Life Sciences, Singapore, Singapore.
1Trinity Life Sciences, Mumbai, India, 2Trinity Life Sciences, Singapore, Singapore.
OBJECTIVES: Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) affects 254 million people globally; the Asia-Pacific region accounts for 59% of all CHB cases and 79% of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related deaths. Despite this disproportionate burden, real-world epidemiological and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) evidence across the four highest-burden Asian countries (China, India, Thailand, Vietnam) remains fragmented. This targeted literature review (TLR) aimed to synthesise evidence and address this gap.
METHODS: A TLR was conducted in PubMed to identify studies reporting epidemiological (prevalence, incidence) or humanistic outcomes (HRQoL utility scores, patient-reported outcomes [PROs], fatigue, and psychological impact) in adults (>=18 years) with CHB (HBsAg-positive >=6 months) across China, India, Thailand, and Vietnam, published January 2015 through April 2026. Studies exclusively reporting acute HBV, pediatric populations, or lacking CHB-specific outcomes were excluded.
RESULTS: A total of 72 studies were reviewed. CHB prevalence varied markedly: Vietnam had the highest general-population prevalence (7-11.2%), followed by China (4.9%), India (2.0%), and Thailand (1.8%). Cirrhosis at diagnosis ranged from 2.1-12.3% in Vietnam to 15.8-92% in China; Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) prevalence at diagnosis was highest in Thailand (50.9%) indicative of late-stage diagnosis patterns, and lowest in India (3.2%). Co-infection burden included HIV among people who inject drugs in India (14.05%) and HDV/HEV in China (0-18% and 23.7%). HRQoL declined with disease severity: EQ-5D utility scores ranged from 0.90-0.95 (non-cirrhotic CHB) to 0.52 (advanced HCC). SF-36 scores showed a consistent decline from CHB through decompensated cirrhosis to HCC. CLDQ indicated moderate QoL in China, with systemic symptoms driving the greatest decrements.
CONCLUSIONS: CHB imposes a considerable and heterogeneous burden across China, India, Thailand, and Vietnam, with marked cross-country differences in prevalence, cirrhosis, and HCC rates at diagnosis. HRQoL is consistently impaired across all disease stages. Standardised, country-level burden evidence is needed to support regional CHB elimination goals and strengthen evidence base across Asia.
METHODS: A TLR was conducted in PubMed to identify studies reporting epidemiological (prevalence, incidence) or humanistic outcomes (HRQoL utility scores, patient-reported outcomes [PROs], fatigue, and psychological impact) in adults (>=18 years) with CHB (HBsAg-positive >=6 months) across China, India, Thailand, and Vietnam, published January 2015 through April 2026. Studies exclusively reporting acute HBV, pediatric populations, or lacking CHB-specific outcomes were excluded.
RESULTS: A total of 72 studies were reviewed. CHB prevalence varied markedly: Vietnam had the highest general-population prevalence (7-11.2%), followed by China (4.9%), India (2.0%), and Thailand (1.8%). Cirrhosis at diagnosis ranged from 2.1-12.3% in Vietnam to 15.8-92% in China; Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) prevalence at diagnosis was highest in Thailand (50.9%) indicative of late-stage diagnosis patterns, and lowest in India (3.2%). Co-infection burden included HIV among people who inject drugs in India (14.05%) and HDV/HEV in China (0-18% and 23.7%). HRQoL declined with disease severity: EQ-5D utility scores ranged from 0.90-0.95 (non-cirrhotic CHB) to 0.52 (advanced HCC). SF-36 scores showed a consistent decline from CHB through decompensated cirrhosis to HCC. CLDQ indicated moderate QoL in China, with systemic symptoms driving the greatest decrements.
CONCLUSIONS: CHB imposes a considerable and heterogeneous burden across China, India, Thailand, and Vietnam, with marked cross-country differences in prevalence, cirrhosis, and HCC rates at diagnosis. HRQoL is consistently impaired across all disease stages. Standardised, country-level burden evidence is needed to support regional CHB elimination goals and strengthen evidence base across Asia.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-09, ISPOR Asia Pacific 2026, Bangkok, Thailand
Value in Health, Volume 55, Issue S1
Code
EPH28
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health
Disease
SDC: Gastrointestinal Disorders, SDC: Infectious Disease (non-vaccine)