[Serological and sociodemographic differences in HBV-patients with and without migration background].
BACKGROUND
It is estimated that 0.5 to 1 % of the total German population is chronically infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). This means that approximately 500 000 chronically infected individuals live in Germany and that around 10 % of them need antiviral treatment. According to an epidemiological calculation, around 42 % of them are migrants. The aim of our study was to gather more information on socio-demographic features of HBV patients and the sero-epidemological status and treatment of these patients.


METHODS
Data collection was carried out in hepatological practices and outpatient clinics in Germany. We collected data from adult patients with chronic hepatitis B by studying their patient records and interviewing the patients and the responsible physicians.


RESULTS
Data of 160 patients from 20 different facilities could be collected. 57.5 % of them were male, mean age was 43.7 (range: 19 - 81 years). 61 (38.1 %) were Germans without a migration background, 82 (51.3 %) were first generation migrants and 17 (10.6 %) second generation migrants. We detected significant differences in the level of professional training and employment status between participants with and without migration background. Only 3 % of migrants had a university degree compared to 36.1 % of patients without migration background. In addition, more migrants were unemployed (38.9 % vs. 19.6 %). From all participants 72.4 % were HBeAg-negative. 111 (69.4 %) of all patients received a hepatitis B specific treatment at the time they were interviewed, most of them adefovir (41.5 %) or lamivudin (35.4 %) alone.


CONCLUSIONS
The estimated high HBV prevalence in migrants from countries with intermediate to high prevalence is reflected in the high number of patients with migration background in hepatological practices and outpatient clinics. To avoid further HBV infections in this population group and to reduce the HBV prevalence in Germany, the effect of further interventions, like a general HBV screening of all new incoming migrants from intermediate or high endemic areas, their vaccination and if necessary treatment, have to be tested.
Wörmann
T
T
Arbeitsgruppe Bevölkerungsmedizin, Fakultät für Gesundheitswissenschaften, Universität Bielefeld.
Prüfer-Krämer
L
L
Krämer
A
A
D000225:Adenine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063065:Organophosphonates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014478:Unemployment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D063065:Organophosphonates; D019259:Lamivudine; C053001:adefovir; D000225:Adenine