The Korean journal of internal medicine

The Korean Association of Internal Medicine (대한내과학회)
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Recent trends in hepatitis B virus infection in the general Korean population

  • Kim, Hyuck (Department of Internal Medicine, Kyung Hee University Medical Center) ;
  • Shin, A Ri (Department of Internal Medicine, Kyung Hee University Medical Center) ;
  • Chung, Hoe Hoon (Department of Internal Medicine, Kyung Hee University Medical Center) ;
  • Kim, Min Kyoung (Department of Internal Medicine, Kyung Hee University Medical Center) ;
  • Lee, Ji Sung (Department of Biostatistics, Korea University College of Medicine) ;
  • Shim, Jae-Jun (Department of Internal Medicine, Kyung Hee University Medical Center) ;
  • Kim, Byung-Ho (Department of Internal Medicine, Kyung Hee University Medical Center)
  • Published : 2013.07.01
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Abstract

Background/Aims: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the major cause of chronic liver disease in Korea, but viral prevalence has decreased because of hepatitis B vaccination programs. In this study, we investigated longitudinal changes in HBV in fection in the general Korean population. Methods: HBV surface antigen (hepatitis B surface antigen, HBsAg) seropositivity was assessed from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (I to V). In total, 50,140 subjects were tested for serum HBsAg positivity over a period of 12 years (1998 to 2010). Results: The prevalence of HBsAg seropositivity decreased over the study period. The rates of HBsAg carriers were 4.61% in 1998, 4.60% in 2001, 3.69% in 2005, 3.01% in 2008, and 2.98% in 2010 (p < 0.0001). The reduction in HBV infection rates was more prominent in younger age groups. Among teenagers (10 to 19 years), the percentage of HBsAg carriers decreased from 2.2% in 1998 to 0.12% in 2010 (p < 0.0001). Among those aged 10 to 39 years, the percentage of HBV infection decreased from 4.72% in 1998 to 2.29% in 2010 (p < 0.0001). However, no decreasing trend in HBsAg positivity was observed among those aged 50 or older (p > 0.05). Neither gender nor socioeconomic status were associated with the decreased prevalence of HBsAg carriers. Conclusions: HBV infection has decreased in the Korean population since the advent of vaccination programs. However, the decrease is limited to the younger population, and viral persistence remains in the middle-aged and older population.

Keywords

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