title: The prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in Korea: pooled analysis.
abstract: This study evaluated the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in Korea. Pooled estimates of the anti-HCV positivity were calculated using the data published in 15 reports on the general population and health check-up examinees. The overall pooled estimate of the prevalence of HCV among middle-aged adults (40 yr old and above) was 1.68% (95% confidence interval: 1.51-1.86%) during the year of 1990-2000 among the general population. Most of the published data indicated that the prevalence of anti-HCV increased with age. The anti-HCV positivity was significantly higher in females than in males. Because the risk of HCV exposure in blood recipients has decreased remarkably, the spread of HCV through means other than a transfusion must be prevented.
authors.affiliation: Division of Registry & Epidemiology, Research Institute for National Cancer Control & Evaluation, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea. hrshin@ncc.re.kr
authors.forename: Hai-Rim
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Soon Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Chung-Mo
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Nam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies