title: Risk factors for acute hepatitis A infection in Korea in 2007 and 2009: a case-control study.
abstract: This study aimed to identify the risk factors associated with acute hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection in the Korean population. Participants were recruited from five referral hospitals across the country in 2007 and from 11 hospitals in 2009. Patients with positive anti-HAV IgM antibody tests became the case group, while patients treated for non-contagious diseases at the same hospitals were recruited as controls. A total of 222 and 548 case-control pairs were studied in the 2007 and 2009 surveys, respectively. Data from the surveys were analyzed jointly. In a multivariate analysis, sharing the household with HAV-infected family members (OR, 6.32; 95% CI, 1.4-29.6), contact with other HAV-infected individuals (OR, 4.73; 95% CI, 2.4-9.4), overseas travel in 2007 (OR, 19.93; 95% CI, 2.3-174.4), consumption of raw shellfish (OR, 2.51; 95% CI, 1.8-3.5), drinking bottled water (OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.3-8.4), and occupation that involve handling food (OR, 3.30; 95% CI, 1.3-8.4) increased the risk of HAV infection. Avoiding contact with HAV-infected individuals and avoiding raw foods eating could help minimize the risk of hepatitis A infection. Immunization must be beneficial to individuals who handle food ingredients occupationally or travel overseas to HAV-endemic areas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine/Institute of Community Health, Hanyang University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Joo Youn
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Bo Youl
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Moran
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ki
authors.forename: Hye Lim
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Hee Suk
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hyun Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Si Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Jin Han
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Dae Won
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Jun
authors.forename: Jin-Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Young Seok
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chang-Hwi
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: U Im
authors.initials: UI
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Jong-Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyeon Woong
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Hong Soo
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyeong Bae
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jae Seok
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Jeong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.forename: In Hee
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jung Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Gab Jin
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Cheon
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005511:Food Handling; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012307:Risk Factors; D017747:Seafood; D014195:Travel; D014611:Vaccination; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D007075:Immunoglobulin M
keywords: Case-Control Studies; Hepatitis A; Korea; Risk Factors