• Log Young Kim, Jeong-Ju Yoo, Young Chang, Hoongil Jo, Young Youn Cho, Sangheun Lee, Dong Hyeon Lee, Jae Young Jang, and Korean Association for the Study of the Liver.
• Department of Big DATA Strategy, National Health Insurance Service, Wonju, Korea.
• J. Korean Med. Sci. 2024 Jan 29; 39 (4): e22e22.

BackgroundThe purpose of this study is to investigate the epidemiological changes in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and assess the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) over the past 15 years in a region endemic to hepatitis B virus (HBV).MethodsNational Health Insurance Service claims data of hepatitis B patients spanning from 2007 to 2021 was utilized. To compare the characteristics of the hepatitis B group, a control group adjusted for age and gender through propensity score matching analysis was established.ResultsThe number of patients with CHB has consistently increased over the past 15 years. The average age of the CHB patient group has shown a yearly rise, while the prevalence of male dominance has gradually diminished. The proportions of hepatocellular carcinoma, liver cirrhosis, and decompensation have exhibited a declining pattern, whereas the proportion of liver transplants has continuously risen. Patients with CHB have demonstrated significantly higher medical and medication costs compared to the control group. Moreover, patients with CHB have shown a higher prevalence of comorbidities along with a significantly higher rate of concomitant medication usage. During the COVID period, the HBV group experienced a substantial decrease in the number of outpatient visits and overall medical costs compared to the control group.ConclusionThe epidemiology of CHB has undergone significant changes over the past 15 years, encompassing shifts in prevalence, severity, medical costs, and comorbidities. Furthermore, the impact of COVID-19 has been observed to decrease healthcare utilization among patients with CHB when compared to controls.© 2024 The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences.

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