A case-control study of the relationship between hepatitis B virus DNA level and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in Qidong, China

Table 1 Demographic data in HCC and control patients n (%)

	HCC patients	Control patients	χ2	P value
	(n = 170)	(n = 276)
Age at recruitment (yr)			8.347	P > 0.05
20-29	6 (3.5)	15 (5.4)
30-39	52 (30.6)	88 (31.9)
40-49	72 (42.4)	87 (31.5)
50-59	35 (20.6)	68 (24.6)
≥ 60	5 (2.9)	18 (6.5)
Smoking			0.131	P > 0.05
Yes	88 (51.8)	138 (50.0)
No	82 (48.2)	138 (50.0)
Alcohol use			0.989	P > 0.05
Yes	103 (60.6)	154 (55.8)
No	67 (39.4)	122 (44.2)
Family history			12.209	P < 0.01
Yes	85 (50.0)	92 (33.3)
No	85 (50.0)	184 (66.7)

Table 2 Association between HBV DNA level at study entry and subsequent risk of HCC n (%)

HBV DNA level (log10 copies/mL)	HCC patients (n = 170)	Control patients (n = 276)	Adjusted odds ratio (95% CI)
1 undetectable	44 (25.9)	186 (67.4)	1.000 (reference)
2 (2.69-3.99)	5 (2.9)	46 (16.7)	0.465 (0.172-1.259)
3 (4.00-4.99)	12 (7.1)	19 (6.9)	2.834 (1.237-6.492)
4 (5.00-5.99)	30 (17.6)	4 (1.4)	48.403 (14.392-162.789)
5 (6.00-6.99)	38 (22.4)	5 (1.8)	42.252 (14.784-120.750)
6 (≥ 7.00)	41 (24.1)	16 (5.8)	14.819 (6.992–31.411)

Adjusted for age at enrollment (continuous variable), cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption and family history of chronic liver diseases.

Table 3 Comparison of serum levels of HBV DNA at study entry and at last visit in asymptomatic HBV carriers (controls) n (%)

HBV DNA level (log10 copies/mL)	At study entry (n = 276)	At last visit (n = 276)	Z	P value
1 undetectable	186 (67.4)	221 (80.1)	- 4.904	P < 0.01
2 (2.69-3.99)	46 (16.7)	30 (10.9)
3 (4.00-4.99)	19 (6.9)	9 (3.3)
4 (5.00-5.99)	4 (1.4)	6 (2.2)
5 (6.00-6.99)	5 (1.8)	3 (1.1)
6 (≥ 7.00)	16 (5.8)	7 (2.5)