A large study looked at millions of people to compare different causes of cancer. The researchers looked at how hepatitis viruses and lifestyle choices affect the risk of developing liver cancer. They compared these risks to the risk of developing lung cancer caused by smoking.
People with hepatitis B, C, or D face a very high risk of developing liver cancer. The data shows that these viral infections are much more likely to cause liver cancer than smoking is to cause lung cancer. Specifically, the risk from hepatitis D was the highest among the groups studied.
In contrast, other factors like heavy alcohol use or fatty liver disease (MASLD) were found to have a much lower risk for liver cancer when compared to the risk of lung cancer from smoking. This highlights how dangerous certain viral infections are for liver health.
Doctors can use this information to better manage patients with hepatitis. Because these viruses are so dangerous, patients with hepatitis should receive regular checkups to watch for early signs of liver cancer. This helps doctors catch problems early and provide better care.
