Hepatitis B virus infection as a risk factor for chronic kidney disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Abstract Background Currently, several studies have observed that chronic hepatitis B virus infection is associated with the pathogenesis of kidney disease. However, the extent of the correlation between hepatitis B virus infection and the chronic kidney disease risk remains controversial. Methods In the present study, we searched all eligible literature in seven databases in English and Chinese. The random effects model was used to conduct a meta-analysis. Quality of included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Scale. Results In this analysis, a total of 31 studies reporting the association between hepatitis B virus infection and chronic kidney disease risk were included. The results showed a significant positive association between hepatitis B virus infection and the risk of chronic kidney disease (pooled OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.12–1.29), which means that hepatitis B virus increases the risk of developing chronic kidney disease. Conclusion This study found that hepatitis B virus infection was associated with a significantly increased risk of chronic kidney disease. However, the current study still cannot directly determine this causal relationship. Thus, more comprehensive prospective longitudinal studies are needed in the future to provide further exploration and explanation of the association between hepatitis B virus and the risk of developing chronic kidney disease.