A predict model to evaluate the level of HBV-DNA for the patients with Chronic Hepatitis B virus (CHB) in clinic: a cross-sectional study

Background: The previous studies showed the correlation between HBsAg and serum HBV DNA levels were weak or missing. And the relationship of HBeAg and HBV DNA levels was lack. Objective：The study aims to investigate the correlation between HBeAg and HBV DNA levels, and to find an alternative tool to evaluate the HBV DNA levels for clinicians. Methods: We enrolled 1020 patients in this cross-sectional study. We divided the patients into four groups as: HBeAg positivity and negativity groups, high and low HBV DNA levels groups. Further, as to the levels of HBV DNA, we performed subgroups’ in HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative groups. Results: The levels of ALT, ALB and HBeAg were the independent factors for the serum HBV DNA in CHB patients. The predict model for the patients with HBeAg-positive was: M1 (high HBV DNA levels) = 1.412 × (1 for HBeAg-positive >16.15 S/CO or 0 for others) + 0.004 × (1 for ALT > 42.5 IU/L or 0 for others) −0.029 × (1 for ALB > 25.5 g/L or 0 for others) + 0.779, and the AUC was 0.606. And the predict model of patients with HBeAg-negative was: M2 (low levels of HBV DNA) = 0.385 − 0.005 × (1 for ALT > 36.5 IU/L or 0 for others) − 0.006 × (1 for TB > 11.15 umol/L or 0 for others), and the AUC was 0.609. Conclusion: HBeAg was an independent risk factor for the patients with HBeAg(+), and when the level of HBeAg was higher than 16.15 S/CO, the patients should have a HBV-DNA test, if not , we should combine with the level of ALT to determine the decision. For the patients with HBeAg(-), we should evaluate the patients to have a HBV-DNA test by the levels of ALT and TB.