Evaluation of an artificial neural network to ascertain why there is a high incidence of hepatitis B in the Chinese population after vaccination.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study was to understand why there is a high incidence of hepatitis B, including acute and chronic infections, after vaccination.


METHODS
All data were obtained from the published information. The incidence of hepatitis B, life expectancy, and positive rates of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and the antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs) in a specific observation year was depicted. The relationships between the HBsAg-positive rate, anti-HBs-positive rate, life expectancy and incidence of hepatitis B were assessed by Pearson's correlation. The quantitative effects of HBsAg-positive rate, anti-HBs-positive rate and life expectancy on hepatitis B incidence were assessed by SPSS 18.0 software with a neural network.


RESULTS
There was no correlation between hepatitis B incidence and the rates of HBsAg or anti-HBs (r=-0.334 for HBsAg, r=0.247 for anti-HBs, p>0.05 for both indicators). A clear correlation was observed between incidence and life expectancy (r=0.841, p<0.05). The standardized percentage of affect of life expectancy on hepatitis B incidence (100%) was much higher than that of either the rates of HBsAg (59.0%) or anti-HBs (45.7%).


CONCLUSIONS
An increase in life expectancy and an improved quality of life may be associated with a higher incidence of hepatitis B. Because hepatitis B is caused by the host immune response, a stronger immune response in individuals with an improved quality of life could contribute to that higher incidence.
Library of Dalian Medical University, China.
Wang
W
Hongfei
Zhao
Z
Yunyan
Yan
Y
Fei
Liu
L
Hui
D044466:Asian People; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D016571:Neural Networks, Computer; D011788:Quality of Life; D012984:Software; D014611:Vaccination
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines
Artificial neural network; Hepatitis B; Incidence; Vaccine