title: Prevalence of IgG anti-HAV in patients with chronic hepatitis B and in the general healthy population in Korea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Few studies have investigated hepatitis A virus (HAV) seroepidemiology in Koreans with chronic liver disease (CLD). This study compared the prevalence of IgG anti-HAV between the general healthy population and patients with hepatitis B virus-related CLD (HBV-CLD), with the aim of identifying predictors of HAV prior exposure.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 1,319 patients were recruited between June 2008 and April 2010. All patients were tested for IgG anti-HAV, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and antibodies to hepatitis C virus. The patients were divided into the general healthy population group and the HBV-CLD group based on the presence of HBsAg. The seroprevalence of IgG anti-HAV was compared between these two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The age-standardized seroprevalence rates of IgG anti-HAV in the general healthy population and patients with HBV-CLD were 52.5% and 49.1%, respectively. The age-stratified IgG anti-HAV seroprevalence rates for ages ≤19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, and ≥60 years were 14.3%, 11.2%, 45.5%, 90.5%, 97.6% and 98.3%, respectively, in the general healthy population, and 0%, 9.8%, 46.3%, 91.1%, 97.7%, and 100% in the HBV-CLD group. In multivariate analysis, age (<30 vs. 30-59 years: OR=19.339, 95% CI=12.504-29.911, P<0.001; <30 vs. ≥60 years: OR=1060.5, 95% CI=142.233-7907.964, P<0.001) and advanced status of HBV-CLD (OR=19.180, 95% CI=4.550-80.856, P<0.001) were independent predictors of HAV prior exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The seroprevalence of IgG anti-HAV did not differ significantly between the general-healthy-population and HBV-CLD groups. An HAV vaccination strategy might be warranted in people younger than 35 years, especially in patients with HBV-CLD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyoung Su
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kwon Oh
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jong Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Seung Yeon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.forename: Seung Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Hyun Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Sung Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hye Won
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Han Kook
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Woon Geon
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Kyung Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Myoung Kuk
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Jin Heon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hak Yang
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D030041:Hepatitis A virus / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056910:Republic of Korea; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G