title: Serology based disease status of Pakistani population infected with hepatitis B virus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The infection rate of hepatitis B virus is continuously increasing in Pakistan. Therefore, a comprehensive study of epidemiological data is the need of time.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1300 individuals were screened for HBV infection markers including HBsAg, anti-HBsAg, HBeAg and anti-HBcAg. The association of these disease indicators was compared with patients' epidemiological characteristics like age, socio-economic status and residential area to analyze and find out the possible correlation among these variables and the patients disease status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  52 (4%) individuals were found positive for HBsAg with mean age 23.5 +/- 3.7 years. 9.30%, 33.47% and 12% individuals had HBeAg, antibodies for HBsAg, and antibodies for HBcAg respectively. HBsAg seropositivity rate was significantly associated (p = 0.03) with the residing locality indicating high infection in rural areas. Antibodies titer against HBsAg decreased with the increasing age reflecting an inverse correlation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate high prevalence rate of Hepatitis B virus infection and nationwide vaccination campaigns along with public awareness and educational programs are needed to be practiced urgently.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, National Institute of Health, Islamabad, Pakistan. ursmasroor@yahoo.com <ursmasroor@yahoo.com>
authors.forename: Muhammad Masroor
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.forename: Soahil Zahoor
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Zaidi
authors.forename: Salman Akbar
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.forename: Asif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Naeem
authors.forename: Shahzad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shaukat
authors.forename: Salmaan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharif
authors.forename: Mehar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Angez
authors.forename: Anis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Javed Aslam
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Butt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D011203:Poverty; D015995:Prevalence; D011897:Random Allocation; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012923:Social Class; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens