SARS-CoV-2/HBV Co-infected Patients: A case series and review of the literature

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine whether severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)/hepatitis B virus (HBV) coinfection affects liver function and the outcome of the disease. METHODS: One hundred fifty-six laboratories confirmed SARS-CoV-2 positive patients were followed up between 1 July and 31 December 2020 and analysed retrospectively. Continuous variables were compared with the independent samples t-test. Categorical variables were compared using the Pearson's chi-square or Fisher's exact test. A P value of less than .05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The age range of the cohort was from 40 to 78 and 73 (46.8%) of 156 patients were male. There was no significant difference in age and gender distribution between 20 patients (12.8%) with SARS-CoV-2/HBV coinfection and 136 patients without HBV infection (87.2%) (P > .05). Liver function tests were higher in the SARS-CoV-2/HBV coinfected patient group but were not statistically significant. The levels of creatine kinase (CK) were significantly higher in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients without HBV infection compared with the SARS-CoV-2/HBV coinfected patient group (P = .0047). Severe/critical illness was less common in the SARS-CoV-2/HBV coinfected patient group, and no deaths were observed. CONCLUSIONS: SARS-CoV-2/HBV coinfection did not change the severity and outcome of COVID-19. However, the patients with SARS-CoV-2/HBV coinfection should be closely monitored for liver complications.