Diagnostics

EASD 2025: Hepatitis B immunity linked to reduced diabetes risk

September 16, 2025

HBV vaccination may offer dual benefits – preventing HBV and reducing diabetes risk – especially in younger adults, according to this study to be presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) annual meeting. While causality can’t confirmed due to the observational design, the study supports broader HBV vaccination as a potential public health strategy in regions with high burdens of both diseases.

Study details: This retrospective cohort study analyzed anonymized electronic health records from >890,000 adults across 131 global healthcare organizations via the TriNetX platform. Participants had no prior hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection or diabetes and were stratified by hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) levels to assess immunity status. Propensity score matching was used to balance demographic and clinical variables between immunized and unimmunized groups.

Results: Individuals with HBV immunity had a 15% lower risk of developing diabetes (hazard ratio [HR], 0.85). A dose–response relationship was observed: those with HBsAb ≥100 mIU/mL had a 19% lower risk (HR, 0.81), and those with ≥1000 mIU/mL had a 43% lower risk (HR, 0.57), respectively, compared with HBsAb <10 mIU/mL. The protective effect was strongest in adults aged 18 to 44 (HR, 0.80). These findings were consistent across geographic regions, though the magnitude varied.

Source:

Phan NQ, et al. (2025, June 25). Diagnostics (Basel). Potential Protective Effect of Hepatitis B Immunity Against Diabetes Mellitus: A Retrospective Propensity-Matched Cohort Study. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40647610/