title: Comparison and analysis of the prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection by region in the Republic of Korea during 2005-2012.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study compared the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the Republic of Korea and estimated the high-risk regions and towns.
  
  
  METHODS
  National Health Insurance Service data for 8 years from 2005 to 2012 were used. The subjects of the study had visited medical facilities and been diagnosed with or received treatment for acute or chronic HCV as a primary or secondary disease according to ICD-10 codes of B17.1 or B18.2, respectively. Any patient who received treatment for the same disease multiple times during 1 year was counted as one patient in that year. To correct for the effect of the age structure of the population by year and region, the age-adjusted prevalence was calculated using the direct method based on the registered population in 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of HCV infection among Korean adults (>20 years old) increased from 0.14% in 2005 to 0.18% in 2012. The sex-, age-, and region-adjusted prevalence in 2012 was 0.18%. The prevalence was highest in Busan, Jeonnam, and Gyeongnam, and there were towns with noticeably higher prevalences within these regions: Jindo (0.97%) in Jeonnam, Namhae (0.90%) in Gyeongnam, and Seo-gu (0.86%) in Busan.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of HCV infection differs by regions as well as towns in the Republic of Korea, and is highest in Busan, Jeonnam, and Gyeongnam. The reasons for the high prevalence in these specific regions should be identified, since this could help prevent HCV infections in the future. In addition, active surveillance and treatment policies should be introduced to stop any further spread of infection in these high-prevalence regions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Inje University, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Hae-Sook
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Shon
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Control and Policy, Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Hwa Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jang Rak
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Chosun University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: So Yeon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Inje University Busan Paik Hospital, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Youn-Jae
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Medical Administration, Suncheon Jeil College, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Myeong Jin
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Ju
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Min
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chosun University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine College of Medicine, Eulji University, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Yeong Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Control and Policy, Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Moran
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adult; Geographic information systems; Hepatitis C virus; Prevalence; Republic of Korea