Predictive model to identify patients requiring extended interferon therapy in chronic hepatitis B

A contemporary study by Yan et al , published in the World Journal of Gastroen terology , demonstrates that baseline hepatitis B surface antigen and cirrhosis can be utilized in a prediction model to identify populations that may benefit from extended (≥ 48 weeks) interferon therapy. In this editorial, we summarize strengths of their study. First, the follow-up period was sufficiently long; second, the authors identified all major confounding factors; third, appropriate statistical methods were employed; fourth, the figures and tables are highly legible; and fifth, the training cohort exhibited stable discriminatory ability. The limitations of the study are as follows: First, the sample size in certain subgroups was too small; second, nearly all similar studies have been conducted in China, leaving readers with a limited understanding of global trends in this field; and third, the benefits of adding PEGylated interferon α-2b to nucleos(t)ide analog therapy were not addressed. Future research should investigate the promising role of combination therapies involving PEGylated interferon α-2b and nucleos(t)ide analogs, incorporate machine learning approaches, and consider the effects of concurrent nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.