title: Regional distribution of hepatitis C virus infection in the Republic of Korea, 2007-2011.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In Korea, hepatitis C is included as an infectious disease in a sentinel surveillance system. Recently, a large variation in hepatitis C incidence between different regions in Korea has been noticed. The current study verified the nationwide distribution of hepatitis C infection for effective prevention and management.
  
  
  METHODS
  We counted the number of hepatitis C patients who visited a hospital per county using the National Health Insurance database from 2007 to 2011. The age-adjusted prevalence ratio was used, and the age adjustment method was used as an indirect standardization method. Disease mapping and spatial analysis were conducted using a geographic information system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The annual prevalence of diagnosed hepatitis C was approximately 0.12% to 0.13% in Korea. The age-adjusted prevalence ratios in Busan, Jeonnam, and Gyeongnam were high (1.75, 1.4, and 1.3, respectively). The three regions in the southern coastal area of the Korean Peninsula were identified as a high-prevalence cluster (Moran's index, 0.3636).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study showed that hepatitis C infection has very large regional variation, and there are several high-risk areas. Preventive measures focusing on these areas should be applied to block the transmission of hepatitis C and reduce the disease burden.
authors: Divisions of Epidemic Intelligence Service, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Osong, Korea.
authors: Geun-Yong
authors: GY
authors: Kwon
authors: Divisions of Epidemic Intelligence Service, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Osong, Korea.
authors: Hyungmin
authors: H
authors: Lee
authors: Divisions of Epidemic Intelligence Service, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Osong, Korea.
authors: Jin
authors: J
authors: Gwack
authors: Vaccine Research, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Osong, Korea.
authors: Sang-Won
authors: SW
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Eulji University, Daejeon, Korea.
authors: Moran
authors: M
authors: Ki
authors: Divisions of Epidemic Intelligence Service, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Osong, Korea.
authors: Seung-Ki
authors: SK
authors: Youn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Hepatitis C; Infection; Prevalence; Republic of Korea; Spatial analysis