Grace Lai-Hung Wong1,2,3, Vicki Wing-Ki Hui*1,2,3, Terry Cheuk-Fung Yip1,2,3, Yee-Kit Tse1,2,3, Vincent Wai-Sun Wong1,2,3

1 Department of Medicine and Therapeutics,The Chinese University of Hong Kong; Hong Kong SAR,
2 Medical Data Analytic Centre (MDAC), The Chinese University of Hong Kong; Hong Kong SAR,
3 Institute of Digestive Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong; Hong Kong SAR, China.

Background/Aims: Universal vaccination of all newborns is the most important strategy to prevent HBV infection. We aimed to evaluate the impact of universal HBV vaccination on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and hepatic events in young adults born in or after 1988 in Hong Kong.

Methods: Consecutive adult subjects born in or after 1988 with HBsAg checked were included as cases. Consecutive subjects born in 1970-1988 with HBsAg checked were included as controls. The incidence rates of HCC and hepatic events (composite endpoint of cirrhotic complications and HCC) were compared in both groups, before and after weighting for age and gender.

Results: 53,960 cases and 175,593 controls were identified. Their mean age was 23.1

Conclusion: Universal HBV vaccination dramatically reduces hepatic events and HCC in young adults.

Financial support: This study is supported by the Commissioned Health and Medical Research Fund of Food and Health Bureau of HKSAR Government (Reference number: CID-CUHK-D).

Keywords: Hepatitis B, HBV, Vaccination