Potential impact of Helicobacter pylori infection on hepatic steatosis and metabolic risk factors among patients with chronic hepatitis B

Summary: We conducted a clinical study on patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) to compare the severity, metabolic profile, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk of patients with and without hepatic steatosis, as well as patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The study found that a high proportion (59%) of CHB patients had hepatic steatosis. There was a gradual increase in liver function indicators, liver stiffness measurement, metabolic syndrome prevalence, and CVD risk from CHB patients without hepatic steatosis to CHB patients with hepatic steatosis to NAFLD patients. Therefore, CHB patients with hepatic steatosis should be diagnosed and managed according to their metabolic risk factors for better long-term outcomes.