The life expectancy of a person with chronic hepatitis B depends on various factors, including sex, age, liver health, and viral activity. On average, chronic hepatitis B carriers live slightly shorter lives compared to non- carriers but can still have a reasonable life expectancy with proper medical management. A study modeling life expectancy among chronic hepatitis B carriers in an endemic region (Taiwan) found that male carriers had a life expectancy of about 71.8 years compared to 76.2 years in non-carriers, a difference of about 4.4 years. Female carriers had a life expectancy of about 80.1 years compared to 82.0 years in non-carriers, a smaller difference of about 1.9 years. The risk of death is primarily due to liver-related diseases like hepatocellular carcinoma and chronic liver disease, and the survival and liver mortality rates vary by sex and age. With medical monitoring and treatment, individuals with chronic hepatitis B can often live long and healthy lives despite the infection.
Survival rates at 5 years vary depending on the severity of liver disease: 97% survival for chronic persistent hepatitis, 86% for chronic active hepatitis, and 55% for chronic active hepatitis with cirrhosis. Thus, liver damage degree is a key factor influencing prognosis.
Overall, the prognosis is that many with chronic hepatitis B live decades with the virus, particularly with ongoing medical care, regular monitoring, and treatment as needed to manage liver health and prevent complications like cirrhosis and liver cancer.
