Korean J Gastroenterol.  2011 Aug;58(2):82-87. 10.4166/kjg.2011.58.2.82.

Shifting in Seroprevalence of HBsAg and Anti-HCV during Recent 10 Years in Adults Resident in Daegu and Gyeongbuk Province

• Lee KI
• Park KS
• Seo HJ
• Kim TY
• Kim ES
• Jang BK
• Chung WJ
• Cho KB
• Hwang JS

• KMID: 1718414
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4166/kjg.2011.58.2.82

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
There have been only few studies on the population-adjusted seroprevalence of HBV and HCV and on the change of them for more than 10 years in Korea. Therefore, this study was performed to evaluate them at a single health center in Daegu and Gyeongbuk province considering the population composition ratio.
METHODS
We analyzed the seromarkers of HBV and HCV of 6,237 randomly sampled adults who had received health screening at the health promotion center in Dongsan hospital during the periods from year 1997 to 1999 (Period A) and from 2007 to 2009 (Period B).
RESULTS
The seroprevalences of HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc and anti-HCV were 4.8%, 70.2%, 47.4%, and 0.5%, respectively. There is no difference in the seroprevalence of HBsAg between period A and B. However, downward tendency of prevalence through A to B from 6.8% to 4.5% could be found in 40s, and upward tendency from 4.7% to 6.8% in 50s. As for the seroprevalence of anti-HCV, although there was no difference through A to B, for 50s, it decreasd from 2.0% to 0.3% (p=0.007). However, for 60s, it increased as much as decreasd for 50s.
CONCLUSIONS
The seroprevalence of HBsAg in Daegu/Gyeongbuk province was 4.8% and showed no difference through the time period of 10 years. The seroprevalence of anti-HCV was 0.5% and also showed no difference through the time periods.

Keyword

Hepatitis B surface antigens; Hepatitis C antibodies; Seroprevalence; Seropositivity

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Female
Hepatitis B/*epidemiology
Hepatitis B Antibodies/*blood
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/*blood/immunology
Hepatitis C/*epidemiology
Hepatitis C Antibodies/*blood
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Republic of Korea
Rural Population
Seroepidemiologic Studies
Urban Population

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Seropositivities of HBsAg and anti-HCV according to age groups. Seropositivity of HBsAg was highest in 50s and that of anti-HCV was increasing with age.

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  Fig. 2. Seropositivities of HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc, and anti-HCV according to examined time periods. Although the seropositivity of HBsAg was decreasing, there was no statistical significance. The seropositivity of anti-HBs was increasing in contrast to anti-HBc which was decreasing. Period A, year 1998 to 2000; Period B, year 2007 to 2009.

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  Fig. 3. Seropositivity of HBsAg according to both examined time periods and age groups. There was no significant difference of the value between two time periods. However, main portion of HBsAg-positive population seems shifting to 50s from 40s. Period A, year 1998 to 2000; Period B, year 2007 to 2009.

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  Fig. 4. Seropositivity of anti-HCV according to both examined time periods and age groups. In the 50s, the seropositivity of anti-HCV at period A was significantly higher than period B (p=0.007). Period A, year 1998 to 2000; Period B, year 2007 to 2009.

Reference

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