title: Hepatitis A in Korea from 2011 to 2013: Current Epidemiologic Status and Regional Distribution.
abstract: The hepatitis A virus (HAV) has been the leading cause of viral hepatitis in Korea since the 2000s. We aimed to describe the current status and regional differences in hepatitis A incidence. We studied the total number of hepatitis A cases reported to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through the National Infectious Diseases Surveillance System between 2011 and 2013. Additionally, National Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service data and national population data from Statistics Korea were used. In total, 7,585 hepatitis A cases were reported; 5,521 (10.9 cases per 100,000 populations), 1,197 (2.3 cases per 100,000 populations), and 867 (1.7 cases per 100,000 populations) in 2011, 2012, and 2013, respectively. Fifty-eight patients were infected outside of the country and 7,527 patients represented autochthonous HAV infection cases. Autochthonous HAV infection occurred more frequently among men than women (4,619 cases, 6.1 cases per 100,000 population vs. 2,908 cases, 3.9 cases per 100,000 population). The incidence rate was higher in the 20-29 yr-old group (2,309 cases, 11.6 cases per 100,000 populations) and 30-39 yr-old group (3,306 cases, 13.6 cases per 100,000 populations). The majority of cases were reported from March to June (53.6%, 4,038/7,527). Geographic analyses revealed a consistently high relative risk (RR) of HAV infection in mid-western regions (2011, RR, 1.25, P=0.019; 2012, RR, 2.53, P<0.001; 2013, RR, 1.86, P<0.001). In summary, we report that hepatitis A incidence has been decreasing gradually from 2011 to 2013 and that some regions show the highest prevalence rates of HAV infection in Korea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemic Intelligence Service, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Osong, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Shinje
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3298-3630
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Convergence of Biomedical Science and Technology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Jun Hee
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5736-8752
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemic Intelligence Service, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Osong, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Geun-Ryang
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4429-1378
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease Surveillance, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Osong, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Enhi
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9562-2093
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemic Intelligence Service, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Osong, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Bongyoung
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5029-6597
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012306:Risk; D012621:Seasons; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Epidemiology; Hepatitis A; Incidence; Korea