Home›Infectious Disease› HBsAg prevalence 7.0% in dialysis patients, with low HBV-DNA and suboptimal vaccination
HBsAg prevalence 7.0% in dialysis patients, with low HBV-DNA and suboptimal vaccinationHepatitis B infection rates among patients on dialysis
International urology and nephrologyPublished October 4, 2026Study authors: Pranto Alif Hasan, Suez Ehsan, Uddin Md Ekhtiar, Tonmoy Hasan Shahriyer, Meem M M Rubaiyat Muntasir,…PubMed ↗DOI ↗Editorial oversight: Dr. Amelia Tan, PhD · Internal Medicine & Chronic Disease
AI-generated summary of the cited source, checked by automated accuracy review.
How we work
Share
Key Takeaway
Recognize the 7.0% HBsAg prevalence in dialysis patients and the need for vaccination and infection control.
This meta-analysis synthesized data from 79 articles (identified from 479 studies) to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection and related factors among dialysis patients globally. The authors pooled data on HBsAg, HBV-DNA, vaccination status, natural immunity, and risk factors.
Pooled HBsAg prevalence was 7.0% (95% CI 6.1-8.0). After excluding outliers, HBsAg prevalence was 6.3%. HBV-DNA prevalence was 1.5% (95% CI 1.0-1.9). Regional variation was noted: HBsAg prevalence in Australia was 8.7%, and HBV-DNA prevalence in Asia and Africa was 4.1%.
HBV vaccine uptake was 49.2% (95% CI 30.2-68.1), and natural immunity (anti-HBV antibody) was 40.0% (95% CI 31.1-48.8). The authors emphasize the importance of careful, contamination risk-free dialysis, vaccination, and early diagnosis of HBV.
Limitations were not reported in the source. The analysis did not report follow-up duration, adverse events, or funding and conflicts of interest. The findings are observational and do not establish causality. The authors caution against overinterpreting associations with blood transfusion, duration of dialysis, HCV or other infections, and renal diseases.
How this fits prior evidence
This meta-analysis extends prior coverage of HBV epidemiology in specific populations, such as the finding of 3.2% global HBsAg prevalence in nurses, by providing pooled estimates for dialysis patients (7.0% HBsAg). It also complements evidence on HBV treatment, where peg-interferon add-on achieved HBsAg loss in 8.6% of patients, by quantifying the burden of infection in a high-risk group. The low HBV-DNA prevalence (1.5%) and suboptimal vaccine uptake (49.2%) underscore gaps in prevention and diagnosis, consistent with prior calls for comprehensive epidemiological strategies.
Living with kidney disease often means starting dialysis to manage waste in the blood. Because this process involves blood and needles, it can sometimes lead to infections. A large review of 79 articles and 479 studies looked at how common the Hepatitis B virus is among these patients. The study found that about 7% of patients tested positive for the Hepatitis B surface antigen, which indicates an active infection.
While the infection rate is relatively low, the data shows that many patients are not protected. Only about 49% of the patients in the study had received the Hepatitis B vaccine. This gap highlights a major opportunity to improve safety through better vaccination programs. The study also found that 40% of patients had natural immunity from previous exposure, while only 1.5% showed evidence of the virus's DNA in their systems.
These findings suggest that while the risk is manageable, it is vital to keep dialysis equipment clean and free from contamination. Early diagnosis and consistent vaccination are key tools to keep these patients safe. Because these numbers come from a wide range of global studies, local rates may vary depending on where a patient lives.
What this means for you:
About 7% of dialysis patients have Hepatitis B, highlighting the importance of vaccination and clean equipment.
Common questions
How common is Hepatitis B in people on dialysis?
The study found that approximately 7% of patients on dialysis have the Hepatitis B surface antigen. In some regions, like Australia, this rate was slightly higher at 8.7%.
Are most dialysis patients vaccinated against Hepatitis B?
Not everyone is protected. The data shows that only about 49% of the patients studied had received the Hepatitis B vaccine.
What does this mean for the safety of dialysis?
The findings emphasize the importance of keeping dialysis equipment free from contamination. It also highlights the need for early diagnosis and regular vaccinations to protect patients from the virus.
Hepatitis B infection is a global threat caused by the Hepatitis B virus (HBV), which can be transmitted through blood transfusions. Again, dialysis is a mechanical process that is used to filter the blood of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the worldwide prevalence of HBV infection using primary published data on hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) and HBV-DNA prevalence among dialysis patients. To obtain the data, we searched three different online databases, and from 479 studies, 79 articles were selected for this study. Besides prevalence analysis, study outliers, quality, and characteristics were identified as well. We found the pooled prevalence of HBsAg and HBV-DNA to be 7.0% (95%CI: 6.1-8.0) and 1.5% (95%CI: 1.0-1.9), respectively, although, excluding the outliers, the prevalence of HBsAg became 6.3%, but HBV-DNA remained the same. Besides, we determined that 49.2% (95%CI: 30.2-68.1) of dialysis patients took the HBV vaccine, and 40.0% (95%CI: 31.1-48.8) of patients developed natural immunity (anti-HBV antibody). Among continent-based analyses, Australia was determined to have the highest prevalence of HBsAg (8.7%), and Asia and Africa were found to have the same and highest prevalence of HBV-DNA (4.1%). Among risk factors, blood transfusion was the highest, followed by duration of dialysis, HCV/other infections, renal diseases, and so on. This study indicates the importance of careful and contamination risk-free dialysis among patients, vaccination, and early diagnosis of HBV to avoid and prevent the risk of HBV infection.
