Primary liver cancer incidence-rates related to hepatitis-C virus infection: a correlational study in Osaka, Japan.
Osaka, Japan, has one of the highest, primary liver cancer (PLC) incidence-rates in the world, although hepatitis-B virus (HBV) is not endemic. This paper addresses the question of whether the PLC-incidence variation within Osaka Prefecture is due to differences in the prevalence of hepatitis-C virus (HCV) infection. The screening data of antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) and of hepatitis-B virus antigen (HBsAg) in 111,069 male blood-donors, and the incidence data of male PLC obtained from the Osaka Cancer Registry were examined. In a multiple-weighted regression analysis, the age-standardized incidence rate of PLC in the 61 counties within Osaka was correlated significantly with the age-standardized prevalence of anti-HCV with adjustment for that of HBsAg (regression coefficient [RC] = 7.26, P < 0.0001). This finding was consistent with the relationship between the PLC incidence rate and the prevalence of high-titer (> or = 2(12)) anti-HCV (RC = 11.18, P < 0.0001). There was significant association between the prevalence of HBsAg and the PLC incidence rate with adjustment for that of anti-HCV (RC = 7.08, P = 0.018). These findings suggest that the PLC-incidence variation within Osaka is correlated with the geographic pattern of HCV infection as well as that of HBV infection among the residents.
Tanaka
H
H
Department of Field Research, Center for Adult Diseases, Osaka, Japan.
Hiyama
T
T
Okubo
Y
Y
Kitada
A
A
Fujimoto
I
I
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D001782:Blood Donors; D015897:Comorbidity; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies