Host and Household Determinants of Viral Hepatitis–Related Liver Disease in District Gujrat: Roles of Blood Group, Consanguinity, Lifestyle, and Metabolic Comorbidity

Abstract

Background: Viral hepatitis, particularly hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV), drives liver disease progression in Pakistan, yet the role of non-viral host and household factors like blood group, consanguinity, and metabolic comorbidities in modulating susceptibility and severity remains underexplored at the district level (25). Objective: This study aimed to examine associations between ABO/Rh blood group, consanguinity, smoking, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, lifestyle, occupation, and residence with hepatitis status (HBV, HCV, none) and advanced liver disease (cirrhosis/other vs chronic hepatitis/others) among liver disease patients in District Gujrat, Pakistan. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 252 patients from Gujrat District General Hospital and Civil Hospital (June–November 2024) were analyzed using multinomial logistic regression for hepatitis status and binary logistic regression for advanced liver disease, adjusting for age, sex, and other confounders, with Benjamini-Hochberg correction (FDR 0.10). Results: B+ blood group was associated with HBV (RRR 1.80, 95% CI 1.20–2.70) and HCV (RRR 1.50, 95% CI 1.00–2.30); higher consanguinity (F >0.015) linked to HBV (RRR 2.10, 95% CI 1.30–3.40) and advanced disease (OR 2.30, 95% CI 1.10–4.80). Diabetes (OR 4.88, 95% CI 1.08–21.99), hypertension (OR 2.50, 95% CI 1.40–4.50), and smoking (OR 1.90, 95% CI 1.20–3.00) increased advanced disease risk. Conclusion: These findings highlight modifiable host factors for targeted screening and prevention in high-burden regions, necessitating further longitudinal research.