An analysis of cohorts of patients with compensated Cirrhosis caused by the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) indicates that the disease decompensates at an annual rate of 1.5% to 5%. Following decompensation, the 5-year survival rate has varied from 14% to 35%. the 5-year survival rate in untreated patients is higher in patients decompensating from variceal bleeding than in those decompensating from ascites (29vs.16%).