title: Geographic correlation between mortality from primary hepatic carcinoma and prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen in Greece.
abstract: Average annual age-adjusted mortality rates per 100,000 from primary hepatic carcinoma (PHC) among males for 1971-1973 in the urban and rural areas of the 9 geographical regions of Greece were estimated. Hepatitis-B surface antigen (HBsAg) prevalence by region and area was evaluated in a sample of 22,844 Greek Air Force recruits from all parts of the country. Mortality from PHC was found significantly higher in urban areas (28-30 vs. 18-81) whereas prevalence of HBsAg was higher in rural areas (5-3% vs. 3-90%). Nevertheless further statistical analysis showed that there is a strong correlation between HBsAg prevalence and mortality from PHC, which is higher in rural (r = + 0-88) than in urban (+ 0-57) areas. The latter findings indicate that hepatitis B infection and PHC may be causally related.
mesh_terms: D006115:Greece; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012424:Rural Population; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens