Marked decrease in the incidence and prevalence of hepatitis A in the Basque Country, Spain, 1986-2004.
The aim of this study was to determine changes in the epidemiology of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection in the Basque Country, Spain, and to evaluate their implications for vaccination strategies. A total of 1356 persons were enrolled in a study of the prevalence of anti-HAV in 2004 and compared with two previous studies (1986-1987 and 1992). The selection method and the characteristics of the population were similar in the three studies. A marked decline in the seroprevalence in all age groups (P<0.001) and in the incidence of cases/100,000 inhabitants (from 38.0 in 1986-1988 to 2.9 in 2002-2004) were observed. The mean age of patients with hepatitis A increased from 17.7 years in 1986-1992 to 21.2 years in 1993-1998 and 25.3 years in 1999-2004 (P<0.001). Between 1997 and 2004, 20% of patients were hospitalized. The changes observed have occurred rapidly causing a change in the epidemiological pattern from middle-high endemicity (1986) to low endemicity (2004).
Cilla
G
G
Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Donostia, and Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad del País Vasco, San Sebastián, Spain.
Pérez-Trallero
E
E
Artieda
J
J
Serrano-Bengoechea
E
E
Montes
M
M
Vicente
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology*; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors
D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G