A large percentage of the Spanish population under 30 years of age is not protected against hepatitis A.
A seroepidemiological study was conducted to assess the seroprevalence of hepatitis A (HAV) antibodies in the Spanish general population in 1992-93. A total of 2744 subjects (1337 men and 1437 women) in the 5-59 years age range were stratified by gender and age (5-12, 13-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59 years). The presence of total anti-HAV antibodies was investigated using a commercial enzyme immunoassay. Fifty-five percent (95% CI: 53.5-57. 2%) of the subjects were positive for anti-HAV antibodies, the age-standardized anti-HAV prevalence being 65.4%. Prevalence of seropositive subjects increased with increasing age (chi(2) = 996, 17; P < 0.0001), being 11%, 25% and 54% for the 5-12, 13-19 and 20-29 age groups respectively. The results from this study showed a remarkable decline in seroprevalence rates among children, adolescents and young adults. The large number of susceptible subjects in these groups of the population has public health implications in a country with intermediate HAV prevalence.
Dal-Ré
R
R
Medical Department, SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, Madrid, Spain. rafael.dal-re@sb.com
García-Corbeira
P
P
García-de-Lomas
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies