Journal List > Korean J Gastroenterol > v.58(2) > 1006907

Lee, Park, Seo, Kim, Kim, Jang, Chung, Cho, and Hwang: Shifting in Seroprevalence of HBsAg and Anti-HCV during Recent 10 Years in Adults Resident in Daegu and Gyeongbuk Province

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.

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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.
kjg-58-82f1.tif
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.
kjg-58-82f2.tif
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.
kjg-58-82f3.tif
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.
kjg-58-82f4.tif
Table 1.
Age and Gender Distribution of Study Population
Periods Age group Male (%) Female (%) Total
1997-1999 20-29 211 (11.0) 201 (10.5) 412
  30-39 216 (11.3) 226 (11.8) 442
  40-49 226 (11.8) 230 (12.1) 456
  50-59 144 (7.5) 151 (7.9) 295
  Above 60 130 (6.8) 178 (9.3) 308
  Total 927 (48.5) 986 (51.5) 1,913
2007-2009 20-29 476 (11.0) 454 (10.5) 930
  30-39 489 (11.3) 510 (11.8) 999
  40-49 510 (11.8) 523 (12.1) 1,033
  50-59 324 (7.5) 342 (7.9) 666
  Above 60 294 (6.8) 402 (9.3) 696
  Total 2,093 (48.5) 2,231 (51.5) 4,324
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