Epidemiology and Outcomes of Hepatitis E Virus‐Associated Hospitalisations in the United States With a Focus on Pregnancy: A Nationwide Population Study, 1998–2020

ABSTRACT

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is typically asymptomatic in developed countries but can be more severe in certain populations. We aim to describe the epidemiology of HEV‐associated hospitalisations from 1998 to 2020 in the United States, investigate risk factors for inpatient mortality and describe outcomes in pregnant women. We utilised the National Inpatient Sample and extracted cases of HEV‐associated hospitalisations using ICD‐9/10 diagnostic codes. Demographic, clinical and pregnancy data were extracted and analysed by chi‐square and logistic regression. We identified 3354 cases of HEV‐associated hospitalisations; 1689 (50.4%) were female and 1425 (42.5%) were non‐Hispanic White. The median age was 50 (IQR: 37–59) years. Hospitalisation rates for HEV ranged from 2.5 per 10,000,000 in 2008 to a peak of 9.6 per 10,000,000 people in the general U.S. population in 2004. The mortality rate was 5.2%. Age ≥ 40 years (OR: 7.73; 95% CI: 1.57–38.09; p = 0.012), HIV infection (OR: 4.63; 95% CI: 1.26–16.97; p = 0.021), and coagulopathy (OR: 7.22; 95% CI: 2.81–18.57; p < 0.001) were associated with increased odds of mortality within the HEV cohort. There were 226 pregnant women with HEV. Rates of maternal death, stillbirth and preterm birth were similar between HEV and non‐HEV pregnant cohorts. Hepatitis B and hepatitis C co‐infection were significantly more common in the HEV pregnant cohort (p < 0.05). HEV‐associated hospitalisations are uncommon in the United States, but likely underdiagnosed. Certain risk factors can be used to predict prognosis of these hospitalised patients. Pregnant women with HEV appear to have favourable maternal and fetal outcomes despite hepatitis B and C co‐infection.