Improving Adherence of Young Male Patients with HBV Infection to the Regular Follow-Up via Mobile Healthcare Platform Might Be Cost-Effective to Decrease the Morbidity of Advanced Liver Cancer

Background: Young adults contribute substantially to the social economy. However, the number of young adults with liver cancer has increased recently. In addition, the mortality rate of these patients is high.

Methods: This retrospective study investigated the risk factors of young patients diagnosed with liver cancer over the past 12 years.

Results: The risk factors of liver cancer, including male, HBV infection, and family history of diseases, were more common in young patients. Nearly 80% of young patients (198/253) were tested as positive HBsAg. However, most of these patients did not visit doctors regularly, as recommended. Thus, 55.7% of young patients were diagnosed with advanced liver cancer. The aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were independently associated with advanced liver cancer (OR = 4.262, 95% CI = 1.559-11.65, P = 0.005) in the multivariable logistic regression. The 1-year survival rate of these patients was 19.4%.

Conclusion: The high-risk factors of liver cancer are common in young patients. The poor adherence to regularly visited doctors in young patients might contribute to the high ratio of advanced liver cancer. The 1-year survival rate of these patients is low. Improving patient's adherence via mobile healthcare platform and monitoring serum AST levels might decrease the incidence and mortality of liver cancer in young adults.