Estimation of seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus in Taiwan from a large-scale survey of free hepatitis screening participants.
OBJECTIVE
Taiwan is a hyperendemic area of liver diseases. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are the two major etiologies of liver diseases in Taiwan. This study investigated the seroprevalence of HBV and HCV in Taiwan.


METHODS
Since 1996, a series of outreach community-based screening programs for liver diseases have been available to the general population aged > or = 18 years. Blood samples were obtained from the subjects and sent for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) tests.


RESULTS
The prevalence of HBsAg(+) was 17.3% (27,210/157,720), while the prevalence of anti-HCV(+) was 4.4% (6904/157,720). Geographic variation in HBV and HCV seroprevalence was found, with the highest anti-HCV positive rate in Miaoli County, Chiayi County, Chiayi City, and Yunlin County, and the highest HBsAg positive rate in Keelung City and Yilan City. The HBsAg positive rate progressively decreased after the age of 50 years, while the anti-HCV positive rate progressively increased after the age of 20 years. The estimated total number of HBsAg carriers in the general population > 20 years old is 3,067,307, while the estimated number of anti-HCV positive patients is 423,283.


CONCLUSIONS
This study estimated a 17.3% seroprevalence of HBV and a 4.4% seroprevalence of HCV in Taiwan. Significant geographic variations in the seroprevalence of HBV and HCV were found. These data suggest the importance of modifying programs for the prevention and treatment of chronic viral hepatitis in Taiwan to reflect its varying prevalence and epidemiology.
Chen
Chien-Hung
CH
Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
Yang
Pei-Ming
PM
Huang
Guan-Tarn
GT
Lee
Hsuan-Shu
HS
Sung
Juei-Low
JL
Sheu
Jin-Chuan
JC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies