Demographic indicators and risk of infection with human herpesvirus type 8 in Central Italy.
BACKGROUND
A cross-sectional study was conducted in Latium and Abruzzo Regions (Central Italy) to estimate the prevalence of infection with human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8) and the association between demographic indicators and risk of HHV-8 infection.


METHODS
Sera from 416 healthy individuals (>or=45 years of age), originally recruited in a multicentric case-control study on classic Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), were tested for antibodies against HHV-8. The association between demographic indicators (i.e., urban/rural residence, occupation) and HHV-8 seropositivity was assessed by means of multiple logistic regression (MLR) odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), adjusted for age and occupation.


RESULTS
Overall, 20.4% of the study participants had antibodies against HHV-8, 23.2% of the men and 17.0% of the women (p = 0.15). HHV-8 seropositivity rates significantly increased with age (p = 0.01), from 10.0% in those under 65 years of age to 24.9% in 75 years or older (MLROR = 2.4). By multivariate analysis, a significantly 2-fold higher risk of HHV-8 was found in individuals living in rural areas, as compared to those living in metropolitan/urban areas (MLR-OR = 2.0, 95% CI: 1.1-3.5), and in farmers, as compared to white collars (MLR-OR = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.1-4.1).


CONCLUSIONS
The study findings suggest that demographic factors such as age, urban/rural residence, and occupation are associated with HHV-8 seropositivity among adult individuals living in central Italy.
Valdarchi
C
C
Epidemiology Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
Serraino
D
D
Cordiali Fei
P
P
Castilletti
C
C
Trento
E
E
Farchi
F
F
Rezza
G
G
D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population
D000914:Antibodies, Viral