Prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection in the United States: the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, 1976 through 1994.
OBJECTIVE
Data from 2 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES), NHANES II (1976-1980) and NHANES III (1988-1994), were analyzed to examine trends in the prevalence of hepatitis B infection in the United States.


METHODS
Serum specimens were tested for markers of hepatitis B virus infection, and risk factors were determined from questionnaires.


RESULTS
The overall age-adjusted prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection was 5.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.8, 6.2) in NHANES II, as compared with 4.9% (95% CI = 4.3, 5.6) in NHANES III. In both surveys, Black participants had the highest prevalence of infection (NHANES II, 15.8%; NHANES III, 11.9%). No differences in infection were found in the major racial groups between surveys, except for a decrease among those older than 50 years. Black race, increasing number of lifetime sexual partners, and foreign birth had the strongest independent associations with hepatitis B virus infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Testing of participants in 2 national surveys demonstrates no significant decrease in hepatitis B virus infection, despite the availability of hepatitis B vaccine.
McQuillan
G M
GM
National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, Md. 20782, USA. gmm2@cdc.gov
Coleman
P J
PJ
Kruszon-Moran
D
D
Moyer
L A
LA
Lambert
S B
SB
Margolis
H S
HS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D044469:Racial Groups; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012747:Sexual Partners; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology