Identification of risk groups for advanced liver fibrosis in the general population using the Fibrosis-3 index.

Background And Aim: We conducted a study using the Fibrosis-3 (FIB-3) index, which is the established age-independent index of fibrosis in nonviral liver disease and addresses the limitations of the FIB-4 index in older age group, to assess the liver fibrosis risk among diverse demographic groups in the general population.

Methods: We analyzed 31 327 individuals who underwent health examinations between 2013 and 2020 and investigated the distribution of the FIB-3 index by age group. In addition, we examined the age distribution of the FIB-3 index stratified by background factors, such as sex, body mass index (BMI), alcohol consumption habits, and the presence or absence of fatty liver.

Natural course of post-COVID symptoms in adults and children.

More than 200 million COVID-19 survivors have lasting symptoms after recovering, but the duration and related risk factors remain uncertain. This study focused on all 6551 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 at a medical institution in Hiroshima from March 2020 to July 2022. In November 2022, a questionnaire survey was conducted regarding post-COVID symptoms and their duration.

Variant-specific Symptoms After COVID-19: A Hospital-based Study in Hiroshima.

Background: Symptoms after novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) recovery by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 strains are unspecified.

Methods: This self-administered questionnaire-based study was conducted to investigate symptoms after COVID-19 recovery at one of the main hospitals for COVID-19 treatment in Hiroshima, Japan, from September 2020 to March 2022 for patients who visited follow-up consultations after COVID-19. Study subjects were divided into four groups (Wild-type, Alpha, Delta, and Omicron periods) according to COVID-19 onset date.

Incidence and Prevalence of Epilepsy in Japan: A Retrospective Analysis of Insurance Claims Data of 9,864,278 Insured Persons.

Introduction: The burden of epilepsy is thought to be high but is difficult to measure. Very few studies in Japan have attempted to estimate prevalence and incidence rates of epilepsy in Japan.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study used commercially collected nationwide insurance claims data from a cohort of 10 million persons between 2012 and 2019 among those aged 0 to 74 years.

The role of discrimination in the relation between COVID-19 sequelae, psychological distress, and work impairment in COVID-19 survivors.

Perceived discrimination and work impairment are commonly observed in COVID-19 survivors, but their relationship has not been well understood. We aimed to evaluate the role of discrimination in the development of psychological distress and work impairment in COVID-19 survivors. From April 2020 to November 2021, 309 patients were recruited at two designated COVID-19 hospitals in Japan.

Burden of chronic hepatitis B and C infections in 2015 and future trends in Japan: A simulation study.

Background: Determining the number of chronic hepatitis B (HBV) and C virus (HCV) infections is essential to assess the progress towards the World Health Organization 2030 viral hepatitis elimination goals. Using data from the Japanese National Database (NDB), we calculated the number of chronic HBV and HCV infections in 2015 and predicted the trend until 2035.

Methods: NDB and first-time blood donors data were used to calculate the number of chronic HBV and HCV infections in 2015.

Impact of antiviral therapy for disease progression and non-invasive liver fibrosis index in patients with chronic hepatitis C: Markov chain model analysis.

Background/aim: Antiviral therapy advancements resulted in an era in which eradication of hepatitis C has become a goal, however, there are few reports on the long-term course of liver disease progression with antiviral therapy. The aim of this study was to use the Markov model to analyze disease progression and non-invasive liver fibrosis index in hepatitis C Patients.

Methods: Patients with chronic hepatitis C (n = 1432) were diagnosed between January 2012 and May 2021 in the Musashino Red Cross Hospital.

Distribution of FIB-4 index in the general population: analysis of 75,666 residents who underwent health checkups.

Background: Fatty liver is frequently found in a general population, and it is critical to detect advanced fibrosis. FIB-4 index is considered a useful marker for evaluating liver fibrosis but the distribution of FIB-4 index in the general population remains unknown.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included residents who underwent ultrasonography at health checkups in Hiroshima or Iwate prefectures.

Adverse reactions to the BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in Japan.

Introduction: The BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccines are the main vaccines that have been used for mass vaccination in Japan. Information on adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines in the Japanese population is limited.

Methods: We conducted an online survey on self-reported adverse reactions in individuals who had received two doses of the BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 vaccine.

Relationship between drinking frequency and fatty liver prevalence or incidence in Japanese undergoing health checkup in 2008-2019.

Background & Aims: The relationship between the frequency of drinking and fatty liver in the general population is still poorly understood. This study analysed data from a large cohort who underwent health checkups in Japan between 2008 and 2019 to investigate the prevalence and incidence of fatty liver by alcohol consumption and risk factors for fatty liver.

Methods: The prevalence of fatty liver diagnosed with ultrasonography was calculated in 75,670 residents.

Comparison of liver disease state progression in patients with eradication of versus persistent infection with hepatitis C virus: Markov chain analysis.

To investigate the long-term prognosis of liver disease in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) eradication after antiviral therapy versus those with persistent HCV infection. Four hundred and eighty patients (5259 person-years [PYs]) who received interferon-based therapy and achieved sustained virologic response and 848 patients (3853 PYs) with persistent HCV infection were included. In the analysis of 1-year liver disease state transition probability matrices using Markov chain models, progression to cirrhosis from the chronic hepatitis state was observed (0.

PNPLA3 and HLA-DQB1 polymorphisms are associated with hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatitis C virus eradication.

Background: Even though both interferon (IFN)-based and direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies against hepatitis C virus (HCV) reduce the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), post-sustained virological response (SVR) patients remain at elevated risk of HCC.

Methods: A total of 4620 patients who achieved SVR were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study. After excluding patients who had a history of HCC or developed HCC within 1 year and whose follow-up period was less than 1 year and who were positive for HBsAg, we investigated the association between clinical characteristics and HCC development after SVR in the remaining 3771 patients.

Long-term prognosis of liver disease in patients with eradicated chronic hepatitis C virus: An analysis using a Markov chain model.

Aim: The long-term prognosis of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection who have received antiviral therapy and who demonstrate HCV eradication remains incompletely characterized. In this study, we investigated the long-term prognosis of liver disease in patients with eradication of HCV.

Methods: A total of 552 patients with chronic HCV infection (6815 person-years) who were treated with interferon-based therapy and who achieved sustained virologic response were included.

Natural history of liver-related disease in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection: An analysis using a Markov chain model.

Background: Long-term prognosis of patients with chronic hepatitis C infection (HCV) remains incompletely characterized. We investigated the long-term prognosis of liver disease in patients with chronic HCV infection who have not received antiviral therapy.

Methods: A total of 2304 patients with chronic HCV who were not received interferon-based therapy were included.

Long-term prognosis of liver disease in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection receiving nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy: an analysis using a Markov chain model.

Aim: Even during nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy, development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been observed in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. We simulated the long-term prognosis of liver disease in patients with chronic HBV who received nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy.

Patients And Methods: A total of 254 patients with chronic HBV receiving nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy were enrolled.

Incidence rates of hepatitis C virus infection among blood donors in Japan: a nationwide retrospective cohort study.

Background: The classification of many new cases of hepatitis virus infection as overt hepatitis does not reflect the true incidence of infection because the disease takes an asymptomatic course in some cases. In this retrospective cohort study, we aimed to estimate the incidence rates of new hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections among the blood donors.

Study Design And Method: A 5-year retrospective cohort study was conducted to estimate the incidence rates by using the medical records of the blood donors between 2008 and 2013 for HCV infection.

Natural course of persistent hepatitis B virus infection in hepatitis B e antigen-positive and hepatitis B e antigen-negative cohorts in Japan based on the Markov model.

This population-based study examined the natural course of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive or HBeAg-negative persistent hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, adjusted by age and liver disease states using a Markov model. Using 12 417 person-years data (n = 862), annual transition probabilities were estimated, and age-adjusted cumulative incidence and natural history of persistent HBV infection were simulated in both sexes of groups 1 (HBeAg-negative status with HBV DNA level <4.0 log IU/mL at entry) and 2 (persistent HBeAg-positive status throughout the study).

Cost-effectiveness analyses of anti-hepatitis C virus treatments using quality of life scoring among patients with chronic liver disease in Hiroshima prefecture, Japan.

Aim: We estimated the cost-effectiveness of direct-acting antiviral treatment (DAA) compared to triple therapy (simeprevir, pegylated interferon-α [Peg-IFN], and ribavirin [RBV]) (scenario 1), Peg-IFN + RBV (scenario 2), and non-antiviral therapy (scenario 3).

Methods: Cost-effectiveness was evaluated as incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) using direct costs and indirect costs, which included loss of wages during the patient's lifetime due to early death caused by viral hepatitis infection. Quality of life (QOL) scores were determined by EQ-5D-3L questionnaire survey on 200 HCV patients in Hiroshima.