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Viral Hepatitis Among African Immigrants with Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Minnesota: High Prevalence Yet Low Awareness

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Abstract

We aimed to study the virologic profile of immigrants from Africa with viral hepatitis-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who received care at our institution. We conducted a descriptive study among African-born patients with HCC who received care at University of Minnesota Medical Center from 2011 to 2018. We analyzed the prevalence, virologic profiles and treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections prior to HCC diagnosis. 74 African-born patients with HCC were eligible for analysis. 54 had HCV and 20 had HBV infection. 80% of HBV patients were treated but remained with inadequate viral suppression at the time of HCC diagnosis while only 39% of HCV patients were treated prior to HCC diagnosis. Lost to follow up was common in both groups. Our findings suggest that there is a significant gap in appropriate viral hepatitis care in an African immigrant population in Minnesota. Culturally-appropriate strategies are needed to bridge this gap.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, grant UL1TR002494. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

    Prowpanga Udompap

  2. Division of Gastroenterology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Carlos G. Moscoso

  3. Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Chimaobi Anugwom, Mandip KC, Nicholas Lim, John Lake & Mohamed Hassan

  4. Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Prowpanga Udompap & Carlos G. Moscoso

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  1. Prowpanga Udompap
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  4. Mandip KC
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  5. Nicholas Lim
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  6. John Lake
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  7. Mohamed Hassan
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Contributions

PU: data collection, analysis, and preparation of manuscript. CGM: data collection. CA: data collection, preparation of manuscript. MKC: data collection. NL: design methodology, manuscript editing. JL: Conception and design of the work, manuscript editing. MH: Conception and design of the work, manuscript editing.

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Correspondence to Prowpanga Udompap.

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Udompap, P., Moscoso, C.G., Anugwom, C. et al. Viral Hepatitis Among African Immigrants with Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Minnesota: High Prevalence Yet Low Awareness. J Immigrant Minority Health 25, 357–364 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-022-01400-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-022-01400-1

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