Individuals with hepatitis B virus (HBV) who are taking Baraclude (entecavir) and Viread (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) have similar eight-year survival rates to those in the general population, Healio reports. The exception is those people with HBV and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, the most common form of liver cancer).

Publishing their findings in the Journal of Hepatology, researchers conducted a study in 1,951 people with hep B who were on Baraclude and Viread. A total of 526 of this group had compensated cirrhosis (the milder form of the advanced liver disease).

The participants were followed for a median six years (and a range of one to 14 years). During this time, 84 of them died from any cause. The one-, five- and eight-year rates of survival were a respective 99.7 percent, 95.9 percent and 94.1 percent for the group as a whole, 99.9 percent, 98.3 percent and 97.4 percent for surviving liver disease and 99.9 percent, 97.8 percent and 95.8 percent for surviving liver transplantation.

After adjusting the data for various factors, the study authors found that each additional year in age was associated with a 4 percent increased risk of death, while developing liver cancer was associated with a 36-fold lower risk of mortality.

Thirty-four participants died of liver disease. The overall death rate of those with the condition was 5.88 percent per year.

The study authors compared the participants with a group of individuals from the general population who were matched by age, sex, country and calendar year. They found that the death rate was 3.09-fold higher among those with liver cancer compared with the control group.

To read the Healio article, click here.

To read the study abstract, click here.