Journal List > Korean J Gastroenterol > v.53(6) > 1006558

Kim, Lee, Choi, Kim, Noh, Kang, Lee, Ra, Gong, and Shin: A Study on Viral Hepatitis Markers and Abnormal Liver Function Test in Adults Living in Northwest Area of Chungnam

Abstract

Background/Aims

We studied the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B, C and abnormality on liver function among the population in northwest area of Chungnam.

Methods

We have reviewed 40,112 adults who had received medical examination at health promotion center in Dankook university hospital. We studied them retrospectively about HBsAg, HBsAb, anti-HCV, and liver function test (LFT).

Results

Among the study subjects, 22,936 men and 17,176 women were involved. The overall seroprevalence of HBsAg was 4.2%. The prevalence in men (4.5%) was higher than that of women (3.7%) (p<0.001). The seroprevalence of HBsAg in their age was 5.1% in the 5th decade, 4.2% in the 2nd decade, 4.1% in the 4th decade, and 4.1% in the 6th decade. The overall seroprevalence of HBsAb was 65.1%. The overall seroprevalence of anti-HCV was 0.7%. After we reexamined them with HCV RNA or RIBA (Recombinant Immunoblot Assay), the prevalence of chronic hepatitis C was 0.09%. The LFT abnormality in total subjects was 11.4%. The LFT abnormality of chronic hepatitis B and C subjects was 21.72% and 63.2%.

Conclusions

The prevalence of chronic hepatitis B and C was lower than that of previous studies. The prevalence of chronic hepatitis B in the 2nd decade was still high.

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Fig. 1.
Positivities of HBsAg and anti-HBs according to age. The positivity of HBsAg was still high in young age groups.
kjg-53-355f1.tif
Fig. 2.
Positivities of anti-HCV and chronic hepatitis C according to age. The positivity of anti-HCV increased with age.
kjg-53-355f2.tif
Fig. 3.
The prevalence of abnormal LFT according to HBsAg(+) and anti-HCV(+) status. The prevalence of abnormal LFT in HBs(+) and anti-HCV(+) subjects HBsAg(−) and anti-HCV(−) subjects with statistical significance (p<0.001).
kjg-53-355f3.tif
Fig. 4.
The mean AST and ALT levels according to HBs(+) and anti-HCV(+) status. Mean AST and ALT levels of HBs(+) and anti-HCV(+) subjects were higher than those of HBsAg(−) and anti-HCV(−) subjects with statistical significance (p<0.001).
kjg-53-355f4.tif
Table 1.
Age and Gender Characteristics of Study Population
Age group Male Female Total (%)
10-19 43 28 71 (0.2)
20-29 961 1,122 2,083 (5.2)
30-39 9,163 6,877 16,046 (40.0)
40-49 7,439 4,335 11,774 (29.4)
50-59 3,124 2,737 5,861 (14.6)
60-69 1,787 1,728 3,515 (8.7)
70-79 394 331 725 (1.8)
Above 80 25 18 43 (0.1)
Total 22,936 17,176 40,112
Table 2.
Overall Results of Hepatitis B and C Viral Markers
Viral markers Male No. (%) Female No. (%) Total No. (%)
HBsAg (+) 1,040 (4.5) 636 (3.7) 1,676 (4.2)
Anti-HBs (+) 14,864 (64.8) 11,232 (65.4) 26,096 (65.1)
HBsAg (+) and 36 (0.2) 35 (0.2) 71 (0.2)
anti-HBs (+)
Anti-HCV (+) 157 (0.7) 105 (0.6) 262 (0.7)
Chronic hepatitis C 19 (0.08) 18 (0.10) 37 (0.09)
Table 3.
Prevalence of Abnormal AST and ALT according to Viral Markers
Viral markers No. (%)
AST and ALT AST ALT AST or ALT
Total 1,746 (4.3) 2,198 (5.5) 4,110 (10.2) 4,562 (11.4)
HBsAg (+) 209 (12.5) 248 (14.8) 325 (19.4) 364 (21.7)
HBsAg (−) 1,537 (4.0) 1,950 (5.1) 3,785 (9.8) 4,198 (10.9)
Anti-HCV (+) 52 (19.9) 63 (24.0) 64 (24.4) 75 (28.6)
Chronic hepatitis C 22 (57.9) 22 (57.9) 24 (63.2) 24 (63.2)
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