Cancers
Association Between Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Positivity and Tumor Incidence: A Large Prospective Cohort Study in Southern China
By Qilan Wen, Yu Wang, Yikun Chang and 6 others.
Abstract
Background
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major global health concern and has been implicated in carcinogenesis. However, evidence regarding the association between hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity and the risk of overall and site-specific tumors remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the association between HBsAg positivity and tumor incidence in a large prospective cohort.
Methods
This prospective cohort study included 538,573 participants recruited in southern China between 2009 and 2015. Newly recorded tumor diagnoses were identified by linkage to a hospital discharge database available through December 2022. Missing covariate values were addressed using five multiple imputations, and propensity score matching was performed separately within each dataset. Cox model estimates were combined using Rubin’s rules. Time-varying and landmark analyses were also performed.