title: Community-based seroepidemiological survey of hepatitis E virus infection in Catalonia, Spain.
abstract: The objective of the study was to investigate the prevalence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in a population sample from Catalonia and to analyze the demographic and clinical variables associated with the presence of these antibodies. A total of 1,280 subjects between 15 and 74 years of age were selected randomly from urban and rural areas. Data for sociodemographic and clinical variables were collected by using a questionnaire. IgG antibodies to HEV were determined by an immunoenzymatic method. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated for studied variables. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine which variables were independently associated with the prevalence of HEV infection. Anti-HEV antibodies were detected in 96 (7.3%) of the 1,280 samples analyzed. The prevalence of antibodies was greater among males (7.8%) than among women (7%) and increased with age for both sexes, from 3% among subjects 15 to 24 years of age to 12% among subjects >/=65 years of age. Bivariate analysis of the sociodemographic and clinical variables showed an association between the prevalence of hepatitis E virus infection and minor surgery (OR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.24 to 3.11), abdominal surgery (OR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.12 to 2.73), and, for women, being uniparous or multiparous (OR, 2.84; 95% CI, 1.19 to 6.79). The multivariate analysis showed an association with minor surgery only (OR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.03 to 2.70). In conclusion, anti-HEV antibodies were detected in 7.3% of the Catalan population. The seroprevalence of anti-HEV antibodies increased with age and was associated with previous minor surgery.
authors.affiliation: Liver Service, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buti
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Domínguez
authors.forename: Pere
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Plans
authors.forename: Rossend
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jardí
authors.forename: Mélani
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schaper
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Espuñes
authors.forename: Neus
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cardeñosa
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Frías
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Esteban
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Plasència
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Salleras
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies