J Korean Med Sci.  2013 Jun;28(6):908-914. 10.3346/jkms.2013.28.6.908.

Risk Factors for Acute Hepatitis A Infection in Korea in 2007 and 2009: A Case-Control Study

• Seo JY
• Choi BY
• Ki M
• Jang HL
• Park HS
• Son HJ
• Bae SH
• Kang JH
• Jun DW
• Lee JW
• Hong YJ
• Kim YS
• Kim CH
• Chang UI
• Kim JH
• Yang HW
• Kim HS
• Park KB
• Hwang JS
• Heo J
• Kim IH
• Kim JS
• Cheon GJ

• KMID: 2158040
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2013.28.6.908

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the risk factors associated with acute hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection in the Korean population. Participants were recruited from five referral hospitals across the country in 2007 and from 11 hospitals in 2009. Patients with positive anti-HAV IgM antibody tests became the case group, while patients treated for non-contagious diseases at the same hospitals were recruited as controls. A total of 222 and 548 case-control pairs were studied in the 2007 and 2009 surveys, respectively. Data from the surveys were analyzed jointly. In a multivariate analysis, sharing the household with HAV-infected family members (OR, 6.32; 95% CI, 1.4-29.6), contact with other HAV-infected individuals (OR, 4.73; 95% CI, 2.4-9.4), overseas travel in 2007 (OR, 19.93; 95% CI, 2.3-174.4), consumption of raw shellfish (OR, 2.51; 95% CI, 1.8-3.5), drinking bottled water (OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.3-8.4), and occupation that involve handling food (OR, 3.30; 95% CI, 1.3-8.4) increased the risk of HAV infection. Avoiding contact with HAV-infected individuals and avoiding raw foods eating could help minimize the risk of hepatitis A infection. Immunization must be beneficial to individuals who handle food ingredients occupationally or travel overseas to HAV-endemic areas.

Keyword

Case-Control Studies; Hepatitis A; Korea; Risk Factors

MeSH Terms

Acute Disease
Adolescent
Adult
Case-Control Studies
Child
Child, Preschool
Female
Food Handling
Hepatitis A/*diagnosis/etiology/prevention & control
Hepatitis A Antibodies/blood
Humans
Immunoglobulin M/blood
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Interviews as Topic
Male
Middle Aged
Multivariate Analysis
Odds Ratio
Referral and Consultation
Risk Factors
Seafood
Travel
Vaccination
Young Adult
Hepatitis A Antibodies
Immunoglobulin M

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