Clinical burden and biochemical profiles of viral hepatitis in a tertiary healthcare facility in North Central, Nigeria.

introductionViral hepatitis remains a significant global health concern, with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) contributing substantially to chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. In sub-Saharan Africa, the public health burden of hepatitis is exacerbated by late diagnosis, inadequate monitoring, and limited resources. This study aimed to evaluate liver enzyme levels and their association with demographic factors and clinical severity among hepatitis patients in a tertiary health facility in Nigeria to inform targeted interventions. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective chart study was conducted involving 723 hepatitis patients at Federal Medical Center Keffi, Nigeria. Sociodemographic data were collected alongside laboratory results for alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and total bilirubin. Patients were classified as having HBV, HCV, or HBV/HCV co-infection. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, ANOVA, correlation, and multiple regression models. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The majority of patients were aged 18-50 years with three levels (70.1%), with a slight male predominance (54%). Hepatitis B was the most common infection (65%), followed by HCV (23%) and co-infection (12%). Co-infected patients showed the highest mean levels of liver enzymes and total bilirubin (ALT: 210 IU/L, AST: 195 IU/L, ALP: 320 IU/L, bilirubin: 5.5 mmol/L). Clinical severity was positively correlated with all liver markers (r = 0.54-0.65, p < 0.01), and multiple regression analysis confirmed that co-infection and severity of symptoms associated with Hepatitis B were the strongest predictors of elevated liver enzymes. These findings align with global evidence that co-infection accelerates liver damage, and emphasize the need for sex- and age-sensitive screening and early treatment programs.

conclusionThis study highlights the biochemical and demographic characteristics of hepatitis patients in Nigeria, emphasizing the heightened disease severity in co-infected individuals. Integration of liver enzyme monitoring with demographic profiling can improve early diagnosis and resource allocation in hepatitis management. Strengthening public health infrastructure and implementing routine fibrosis assessment are vital to reducing hepatitis-related morbidity in resource-limited settings.