the prevalence of hepatitis b surface antigen and hepatitis d virus antibody positivity among hemodialysis patients and patients with beta-thalassemia major

Background: patients, who receive hemodialysis and patients with beta-thalassemia major are at great risk for blood-borne viral infections, chiefly different types of hepatitis. objectives: this study aimed at assessing the prevalence of hepatitis b and d among hemodialysis patients and patients with betathalassemia major in kashan, iran. methods: this cross-sectional study was conducted in 2016 on 108 patients on hemodialysis and 34 patients with beta-thalassemia major in kashan, iran. after explaining the aim of the study to the participants and securing their informed consents, data on their demographic and health-related characteristics were collected through a questionnaire. then, a five-milliliter venous blood sample was obtained from each participant and tested using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique for hepatitis b surface antigen and hepatitis d virus antibody. the data were entered in the spss program (v. 16.0) and analyzed using the chi-square and the independent-sample t tests. results: theprevalence of hepatitisbsurface antigen positivityamongpatientsonhemodialysisandpatients with beta-thalassemia major was 3.7% and 8.8%, respectively. moreover, the prevalence of hepatitis d virus antibody positivity among these patients was 2.9% and 1.9%, respectively. the prevalence of hepatitis b surface antigen positivityamongpatients on hemodialysis had a significant relationship with history of addiction and history of unprotected sex. conclusions: the prevalence of hepatitis b and d was respectively 3.7% and 8.8% among hemodialysis patients and 2.9% and 1.9% among patients with beta-thalassemia major. effective strategies should be employed to minimize the risks of hepatitis b and d transmission among hemodialysis patients and patients with beta-thalassemia major. moreover, regular screening programs are needed for early diagnosis and treatment of viral hepatitis among these patients.