title: Hepatitis B and C prevalence in Portugal: disparity between the general population and high-risk groups.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The prevalence of anti-HCV and HBsAg in Portugal has been shown to be elevated in high-risk groups, such as intravenous drug-users and incarcerated individuals. However, in the general population, prevalence remains largely unknown. The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of anti-HCV and HBsAg in the general Portuguese population and identify associated risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out a nationwide, population-based cross-sectional study of adults resident in mainland Portugal. Serology for HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HBs, and anti-HCV was performed. Anti-HCV-positive individuals were tested for HCV RNA by PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 1685 participants, 50.6% were men, mean age 50.2±18.3 years. In terms of hepatitis C, the prevalence of anti-HCV was 0.54% [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.2-0.9] and 0.12% (95% CI: 0.0-0.3) were viremic, with peak prevalence among individuals 35-64 years of age (0.8%), men (0.8%), and individuals from Lisbon and Tagus Valley region (1.9%).In terms of hepatitis B, the estimated prevalence of HBsAg was 1.45% (95% CI: 0.9-2.0). A higher prevalence was found in individuals who were 35-64 years old (2.2%), in men (2.5%), and in the Northern region (2.6%).The presence of positive serological markers of hepatitis C virus and hepatitis B virus infection did not correlate with elevated aminotransferases, race, place of birth, and alcohol consumption.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest a low endemicity for both hepatitis B and hepatitis C in the general population, in contrast to a very high prevalence in risk groups, thus suggesting that targeted screening to high-risk groups may be more cost-effective than general population screening.
authors: aDepartment of Gastroenterology, Hospital de Santa Maria bLaboratório de Nutrição, FML, Universidade de Lisboa cCenter of Biodiversity Functional & Integrative Genomics (BioFIG), Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisboa dUnidade de Hepatologia, Serviço de Medicina Interna, Centro Hospitalar e Universitario de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors: Sofia C
authors: SC
authors: Carvalhana
authors: Jorge
authors: J
authors: Leitão
authors: Ana C
authors: AC
authors: Alves
authors: Mafalda
authors: M
authors: Bourbon
authors: Helena
authors: H
authors: Cortez-Pinto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014766:Viremia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase