title: The epidemiological pattern of chronic liver diseases in a community undergoing voluntary screening for hepatitis B and C.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vallecamonica-Sebino is a community in Northern Italy (99,776 inhabitants) with one of the highest mortality rates for primary liver cancer and cirrhosis in Italy, and voluntary screening for HCV and HBV is widespread. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of chronic liver diseases and their aetiology in the area.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used the following sources of data, linked at an individual level: (1) hospital discharge data; (2) local Viral Hepatitis Services; (3) tests for anti-HCV antibodies and HBsAg from local laboratories; (4) Local Health Authority registry of chronic liver disease patients; (5) drug prescriptions for HBV and HCV treatment; (6) archives of Alcohol Units.
  
  
  RESULTS
  3.5% of the residents had chronic liver disease, mainly chronic hepatitis (61.6%), followed by cirrhosis (14.0%) and alcoholic liver disease (11.2%). HCV was the main cause of chronic liver disease in females (46.3%) and males (29.8%), followed by alcohol abuse in males (22.9%) and HBV (10.9% males and 9.2% females). Prevalence of anti-HCV positivity was 3.2%, and increased with age to 8.8% in subjects aged 65 years and over.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that an epidemiologic pattern of the prevalence of chronic liver diseases and their aetiology can be obtained using routinely collected data.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Applied Medicine, Institute of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zani
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pasquale
authors.forename: Maura
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bressanelli
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puoti
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Paris
authors.forename: Romana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Coccaglio
authors.forename: Ivanna
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lascioli
authors.forename: Giuliana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pieriacci
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Donato
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies