Risk Factors for Acute Hepatitis A Infection in Korea in 2007 and 2009: A Case-Control Study.
10.3346/jkms.2013.28.6.908
- Author:
Joo Youn SEO
1
;
Bo Youl CHOI
;
Moran KI
;
Hye Lim JANG
;
Hee Suk PARK
;
Hyun Jin SON
;
Si Hyun BAE
;
Jin Han KANG
;
Dae Won JUN
;
Jin Woo LEE
;
Young Jin HONG
;
Young Seok KIM
;
Chang Hwi KIM
;
U Im CHANG
;
Jong Hyun KIM
;
Hyeon Woong YANG
;
Hong Soo KIM
;
Kyeong Bae PARK
;
Jae Seok HWANG
;
Jeong HEO
;
In Hee KIM
;
Jung Soo KIM
;
Gab Jin CHEON
Author Information
1. Department of Preventive Medicine/Institute of Community Health, Hanyang University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. bychoi@hanyang.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords:
Case-Control Studies;
Hepatitis A;
Korea;
Risk Factors
- MeSH:
Acute Disease;
Adolescent;
Adult;
Case-Control Studies;
Child;
Child, Preschool;
Female;
Food Handling;
Hepatitis A/*diagnosis/etiology/prevention & control;
Hepatitis A Antibodies/blood;
Humans;
Immunoglobulin M/blood;
Infant;
Infant, Newborn;
Interviews as Topic;
Male;
Middle Aged;
Multivariate Analysis;
Odds Ratio;
Referral and Consultation;
Risk Factors;
Seafood;
Travel;
Vaccination;
Young Adult
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science
2013;28(6):908-914
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
This study aimed to identify the risk factors associated with acute hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection in the Korean population. Participants were recruited from five referral hospitals across the country in 2007 and from 11 hospitals in 2009. Patients with positive anti-HAV IgM antibody tests became the case group, while patients treated for non-contagious diseases at the same hospitals were recruited as controls. A total of 222 and 548 case-control pairs were studied in the 2007 and 2009 surveys, respectively. Data from the surveys were analyzed jointly. In a multivariate analysis, sharing the household with HAV-infected family members (OR, 6.32; 95% CI, 1.4-29.6), contact with other HAV-infected individuals (OR, 4.73; 95% CI, 2.4-9.4), overseas travel in 2007 (OR, 19.93; 95% CI, 2.3-174.4), consumption of raw shellfish (OR, 2.51; 95% CI, 1.8-3.5), drinking bottled water (OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.3-8.4), and occupation that involve handling food (OR, 3.30; 95% CI, 1.3-8.4) increased the risk of HAV infection. Avoiding contact with HAV-infected individuals and avoiding raw foods eating could help minimize the risk of hepatitis A infection. Immunization must be beneficial to individuals who handle food ingredients occupationally or travel overseas to HAV-endemic areas.