Hepatitis B and hepatitis C prevalence and treatment referral among Asian Americans undergoing community-based hepatitis screening.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to identify cross-sectional hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HCV prevalence among Asian Americans at a community health fair and to assess referral rates.


METHODS
We determined HBV prevalence with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc), and antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs). We determined HCV prevalence with hepatitis C antibodies. Successful referral occurred when participants with HBV or HCV were contacted, medically evaluated, and given contact information of liver specialists for care.


RESULTS
Of 202 people screened, 118 were Asian Americans (65 Chinese and 39 Vietnamese). Twelve had chronic HBV with positive HBsAg. However, chronic HBV prevalence increased from 10.2% to 13.6% by concomitant HBsAg, anti-HBc, and anti-HBs testing. Prevalence of HCV was 6% overall but 15.4% among Vietnamese. Overall, 83% of patients with chronic HBV and 100% of patients with occult HBV or HCV were successfully referred.


CONCLUSIONS
Concomitant HBsAg, anti-HBc, and anti-HBs testing permits diagnosis of chronic, occult HBV infections missed by testing with HBsAg alone. Persons identified with HBV or HCV at community health fairs can be successfully referred.
Department of General Internal Medicine at University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA. jphwang@mdanderson.org
Jessica P
JP
Hwang
Mahfam
M
Mohseni
Beverly J
BJ
Gor
Sijin
S
Wen
Heather
H
Guerrero
John M
JM
Vierling
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001213:Asian; D003153:Community Health Services; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology
D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies