The emerging age-pattern changes of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in Korea

• Published in: Clinical and molecular hepatology Vol. 29; no. 1; pp. 99 - 101
• Main Authors: Cho, Yuri, Kim, Bo Hyun, Park, Joong-Won
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Korean Association for the Study of the Liver 01-01-2023; The Korean Association for the Study of the Liver
• Subjects: Age; aged; Antigens; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - diagnosis; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - pathology; Diabetes; elderly; Epidemiology; Hepatitis B; hepatocellular carcinoma; Humans; Liver cancer; Liver cirrhosis; Liver diseases; Liver Neoplasms - pathology; Medical prognosis; Microbiota; Obesity; Republic of Korea - epidemiology; Surveillance; Republic of Korea; South Korea; China; Japan; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Aged; Elderly; Epidemiology
• ISSN: 2287-2728; 2287-285X
• DOI: 10.3350/cmh.2022.0321

The HBsAg-positivity rates in the 10–18 years group markedly declined to 2.2% in 1998, 1.9% in 2001, 1.9% in 2007, and 0.3% in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016 [4]. [...]the use of potent nucleos(t)ide analogs significantly reduced the development of cirrhosis, leading to improved overall survival of patients with CHB [5]. The alteration of gut microbiota in patients with NAFLD also leads to hepatocarcinogenesis [14], which is affected by aging. Since Korea is a rapidly aging society, these factors might consistently increase the proportions of NAFLD-related HCC and older HCC patients. [18] reported a retrospective Korean HCC cohort study showing that non-liver-related mortality was significantly higher in older patients (≥70 years) than in younger patients, although the overall survival was similar to that found in patients aged <70 years. [...]the allocation of treatment modalities should be determined according to HCC stage, liver function, and performance status [19], rather than chronological age. [...]a recent multicenter retrospective observational study from Japan showed poorer tolerability to lenvatinib in older patients aged ≥80 years than in patients aged <80 years. [...]meticulous management [21] of adverse events is crucial for the adherence and maintenance of systemic therapies in older patients with HCC.