Therapeutic and preventive treatment on outcomes of hepatitis B virus induced chronic liver disease with a cost-effectiveness analysis

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the major micro-pathogens in the progression of chronic liver infections worldwide. Despite a vaccine and anti-virus drugs used in the management of HBV infection, the prognosis and outcomes of this chronic infection remain complex and the infection can easily recur. Several parameters such as host age, viral mutations and genotypes, regional distributions, etc. have an effect on the outcome of hepatitis B infection following preventive measures and therapy around viral life cycle in the clinic. In addition, the economic status in different regions and groups of patients also affect disease progression. A cost-effectiveness analysis is considered to play a critical role in the management of chronic HBV infection. This mini-review investigates the above-mentioned aspects and provides a perspective viewpoint for the management of HBV infection in the future.

Keywords: Hepatitis B virus; Treatment; Outcome; Chronic liver disease; Cost-effectiveness

Core Tip: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains the major obstacle in the management of chronic liver disease worldwide, despite vaccination and anti-viral therapy. The life cycle of HBV replication in hepatocytes has a critical role in the escape of virus under the management strategy. It is important to summarize the associated factors between the host and virus in the development of HBV-mediated chronic progression using a cost-effectiveness analysis. This mini-review highlights both vaccination and anti-viral therapy interruption of the associated stages of the HBV life cycle as well as the corresponding cost-effectiveness methods applied to evaluate the diagnostic strategies, vaccination and treatment in HBV management.