Epidemiological Evaluation of Diabetes Mellitus in Patients with Hepatitis B Virus Infection at a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection are major global health concerns, particularly in developing countries. Emerging evidence suggests a possible association between chronic HBV infection and impaired glucose metabolism. However, limited data are available regarding the epidemiological relationship between these conditions in local populations. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of diabetes mellitus among HBV-infected patients at a tertiary care hospital. Methodology: A hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Peshawar, Pakistan. A total of 168 patients with confirmed HBV infection were included using a consecutive non-probability sampling technique. Blood samples were collected and analyzed for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) using chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay, while blood glucose levels were measured using the hexokinase method. Diabetes mellitus was defined as a random blood glucose level ≥200 mg/dL or fasting blood glucose ≥126 mg/dL. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20, and results were presented as frequencies and percentages. Results: Out of 168 HBV-infected patients, 102 (60.7%) were males and 66 (39.3%) were females. The majority of patients (29.8%) were in the 41–50 years age group. The most common clinical symptom was fatigue (65.5%), followed by abdominal pain (54.8%) and loss of appetite (52.4%). The prevalence of diabetes mellitus among HBV-infected patients was found to be 38.1% (n=64), while 61.9% (n=104) were non-diabetic. Conclusion: The study demonstrates a considerable prevalence of diabetes mellitus among patients with hepatitis B virus infection, suggesting a potential association between these two conditions. Early screening and integrated management of diabetes in HBV-infected patients are recommended to reduce complications and improve clinical outcomes.