title: History of blood transfusion, tattooing, acupuncture and risk of hepatitis B surface antigenaemia among Chinese men in Singapore.
abstract: To determine whether a history of blood transfusion, tattooing, and acupuncture is associated with an increased risk of hepatitis B surface antigenaemia, a study of 6,328 Chinese men between 35 and 65 years of age was undertaken in Singapore. The age-adjusted odds ratios were 1.44 (95% CI: 1.14, 1.83) for blood transfusion, 1.14 (95% CI: 0.80, 1.63) for tattooing, and 0.88 (95% CI: 0.71, 1.11) for acupuncture. Using no history of any of the three percutaneous procedures as reference, the age-adjusted odds ratio for blood transfusion only was 1.40, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.84, and for blood transfusion plus tattooing was 2.59, 95% CI: 1.18, 5.70. The proportion of HBsAg positive cases attributable to blood transfusion and tattooing, as measured by the population attributable risk, are 4.1 and 0.7 per cent, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community, Occupational, and Family Medicine, National University of Singapore.
authors.forename: W O
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Phoon
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012846:Singapore; D013653:Tattooing / Q000009:adverse effects*; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens