Shifting demographics and comorbidity burden in adult Chinese urban patients with chronic hepatitis B, 2013 and 2016

Chronic hepatitis B demographics and comorbidity data are limited in China. Materials & methods: The China Health Insurance Association claims database from 2013 and 2016 was used to augment the existing data: the proportion of patients aged >45 years increased significantly from 40.3% in 2013 to 49% in 2016 (p < 0.001). Results: Significant increases in multiple comorbidities were observed, including hypertension (9.4–14.5%), hyperlipidemia (4.7–7.0%) and cardiovascular disease (5.7–10%; p < 0.001 for all comparisons). Increases were observed in renal impairment (8.8–10.0%; p < 0.001) and osteoporosis and/or pathologic nontraumatic bone fracture (3.8–7.3%; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Careful selection of treatment options and comorbidity monitoring should be considered when managing adult Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B.