PO-020 : Increasing Age and Comorbidities in Adult Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) from 2007 to 2016 in Korea

Aims: CHB prevalence in Korea ranges from 2-7% and is attributable for ~64-70% of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases. This study aims: to characterize the distribution and trend in demographics and comorbidity among CHB patients in Korea between 2007 and 2016. Methods: We used the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA) Database to identify patients ≥18 years with CHB as identified by ICD-10 codes (B18.1). Demographic and comorbidity data was reported cross-sectionally for 2007, 2011, and 2016. Patients were required to have ≥1 inpatient or ≥2 outpatient claims: for CHB for each eligible year. Comorbidities were confirmed through both disease code and medication prescriptions. Results: A total of 253,002 patients met inclusion and exclusion criteria in 2007, with 320,245 in 2011 and 418,099 patients in 2016. Males made up 63% of patients in 2007 and decreased to 60% in 2016 (P<0.0001). The mean age of patients was 47 years (SD 13.3) in 2007 and increased to 52 years (SD 12.5) in 2016 (P<0.0001). The proportion of the population over 65 years of age increased from 10.4% in 2007 to 15.7% in 2016 (P<0.0001). As shown in Figure 1, by 2016, 36% of CHB patients in Korea had hyperlipidemia, 28.8% with hypertension, 14.6% with osteoarthritis, 13.1% with diabetes, 11.9% with osteoporosis/bone fracture, 4.8% with cerebrovascular disease, and 2.3% with chronic kidney disease ; all of which have increased significantly from 2007 (all P<0.001). Furthermore, 2007 prevalence of cirrhosis (23%), decompensated cirrhosis (3.7%) and HCC (5.4%) decreased significantly in 2016 to 22.3%, 2.2%, and 4.6% respectively (P<0.0001). Conclusions: Between 2007-2016, the Korean CHB population has significantly aged with more comorbidities, including renal and metabolic bone disease that may affect CHB management. Careful selection of treatment and monitoring should be considered in these populations. Liver sequalae have also decreased, possibly due to better vaccination and CHB management.