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Nationwide seroepidemiology of hepatitis B virus infection in South Korea in 2009 emphasizes the coexistence of HBsAg and anti‐HBs
Author(s) -
Lee Byung Seok,
Cho Yong Kyun,
Jeong SookHyang,
Lee Joon Hyeok,
Lee Don,
Park Neung Hwa,
Ki Moran
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.23594
Subject(s) - hbsag , seroprevalence , medicine , hepatitis b virus , virology , population , serology , hepatitis b , immunology , antibody , virus , demography , environmental health , sociology
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the major cause of chronic liver disease in Korea. This study investigated the seroprevalence of HBV infection with an emphasis on the coexistence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody (anti‐HBs). In all, 290,212 people undergoing health check‐up examinations in 29 institutions during 2009 were recruited. The crude seroprevalences of HBsAg and anti‐HBs was adjusted by age, sex, and geographic area using the 2009 estimated population of Korea. The adjusted seroprevalences of HBsAg and anti‐HBs was 4.0% and 73.5%, respectively. Males showed higher HBsAg positivity and lower anti‐HBs positivity than females ( P < 0.001). HBsAg positivity increased with age from 3.5% in people 20–29 years old to 4.8% in people 40–49 years old, followed by a decrease in people ≥50 years old. HBsAg positivity in Southern provinces (4.5%) including Jeju (5.9%), was significantly higher than that in Central provinces (3.6%; P < 0.001). Interestingly, HBsAg and anti‐HBs coexisted in 0.1% of the total subjects and in 2.9% of the HBsAg‐positive group, showing distinct age distribution and higher alanine aminotransferase levels than those of the group positive for only HBsAg. In conclusion, the seroprevalence of HBsAg and anti‐HBs in Korea varies significantly by age, sex and geographical location and coexisted in 2.9% of HBsAg‐positive subjects. Continuous monitoring of seroepidemiology may facilitate the eventual eradication of HBV infection. J. Med. Virol. 85:1327–1333, 2013 . © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.