Geographic Characteristics of Positivity of Anti - HCV and Chonnam Province: Survey Data of 6, 790Health Screenees

Na, Ho Young; Park, Min Ho; Park, Keun Soo; Sohn, Young Hae; Joo, Young Eun; Kim, Sei Jong

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Anti-HCV positivity has been estimated mainly in selected population such as volunteer blood donors or patients with various liver diseases. However, up to date, little has been known about anti-HCV positivity in the general population.
METHODS
We selected 6,790 adults who visited for health screening at Chonnam National University Hospital. Then, we evaluated anti-HCV positivity and examined the relationship between this positivity and various clinical parameters including HBV markers and geographic area.
RESULTS
The positivity of anti-HCV, HBsAg and anti-HBs was 2.1, 6.3 and 62.9%, respectively. Anti-HCV positivity was higher in Chonnam area than in Kwangju area. Especially, anti-HCV positivity was higher in coastal area than in inland area. However, HBsAg positivity had no geographic difference. The positivity of anti-HCV and HBsAg were higher in male than in female. Anti-HCV positivity increased with age, but the positivity of HBsAg and anti-HBs did not increase. The positivity of anti-HCV and HBsAg were higher in people with abnormal ALT level than in people with normal ALT level. Especially, the titer of anti-HCV increased steadily with that of ALT.
CONCLUSIONS
Anti-HCV positivity was high in Chonnam area (especially, in coastal area), in male, and in old age group. High titer of anti-HCV correlated with high ALT level. The positivity of HBsAg was high in male, but there were no geographic and age-specific variation.