title: Prevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infections in France in 2004: social factors are important predictors after adjusting for known risk factors.
abstract: To monitor the prevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C a cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2004 among French metropolitan residents. A complex sampling design was used to enroll 14,416 adult participants aged 18-80 years. Data collected included demographic and social characteristics and risk factors. Sera were tested for anti-HCV, HCV-RNA, anti-HBc and HBsAg. Data were analyzed with SUDAAN software to provide weighted estimates for the French metropolitan resident population. The overall anti-HCV prevalence was 0.84% (95% CI: 0.65-1.10). Among anti-HCV positive individuals, 57.4% (95% CI: 43.2-70.5) knew their status. Factors associated independently with positive anti-HCV were drug use (intravenous and nasal), blood transfusion before 1992, a history of tattoos, low socioeconomic status, being born in a country where anti-HCV prevalence >2.5%, and age >29 years. The overall anti-HBc prevalence was 7.3% (95%: 6.5-8.2). Independent risk factors for anti-HBc were intravenous drug use, being a man who has sex with men, low socioeconomic status, a stay in a psychiatric facility or facility for the mentally disabled, <12 years of education, being born in a country where HBsAg prevalence >2%, age >29 and male sex. The HCV RNA and HBsAg prevalence were 0.53% (95% CI: 0.40-0.70) and 0.65% (95% CI: 0.45-0.93), respectively. Among HBsAg positive individuals, 44.8% (95% CI: 22.8-69.1) knew their status. Anti-HCV prevalence was close to the 1990s estimates whereas HBsAg prevalence estimate was greater than expected. Screening of hepatitis B and C should be strengthened and should account for social vulnerability.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Public Health Surveillance, Saint-Maurice, France.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meffre
authors.forename: Yann
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Le Strat
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Delarocque-Astagneau
authors.forename: Fréderic
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dubois
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Antona
authors.forename: Jean-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lemasson
authors.forename: Josiane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Warszawski
authors.forename: Josiane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Steinmetz
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Coste
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Sandrine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leiser
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Giordanella
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gueguen
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Desenclos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral