<b>OBJECTIVEb>To analyze the characteristics of health-seeking behaviors and related influencing factors of the community-based hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive adults, in China.

<b>METHODSb>Based on the cohort formed by the HBsAg positive patients, in the national sero-survey project in 2006, we conducted a follow-up programs in 2010 and 2014. In the latest follow-up project, we carried out a cross-sectional study to collect information on health-seeking behaviors of the patients. Questionnaires would include information on clinic visits, diagnosis, regular physical examination and treatments,etc. We used the SPSS 18.0 software for data analysis.

<b>RESULTSb>Totally, 2 478 HBsAg positive adults (≥18 years old) were followed through, with 34.4% (853/2 478) of them had visited the doctors and diagnosed after they were informed the status of HBsAg positivity, in the 2006-sero-survey program. Among patients who ever visiting the clinic, 51.2% (372/727) of them underwent at least medical examination once a year, with 31.5% (229/727) of them received treatment. Furthermore, 34.5% (79/229) of the treated patients adopted the traditional Chinese medicine or medicine for ' liver protection'. 56.8% (130/229) of the treated patients received antiviral drugs. Data from the binary logistic regression showed that the major influencing factors on clinic visits would include: age, level of education received and residencial areas (rural/urban).

<b>CONCLUSIONSb>Consciousness on health was low in those community-based HBsAg positive people. Standerdized management and clinical treatment programs should be set up accordingly.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; psychology ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Delivery of Health Care ; Hepatitis B ; blood ; diagnosis ; ethnology ; psychology ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; blood ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Residence Characteristics ; Rural Population ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVES: To examine the sex-specific factors associated with being unaware of one's hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) seropositivity status in a large, HBsAg-positive population of Koreans. METHODS: In total, 1197 subjects aged 19 years or older who were HBsAg-positive according to data from the 2007-2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were included. Subjects were considered unaware of their HBsAg seropositivity status if they answered that they had no knowledge of being previously infected by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) or diagnosed with HBV hepatitis. Multivariate Poisson regression models with robust variance estimate were used to assess the significance of the variables using weighted frequencies. RESULTS: The majority (77.8%) of HbsAg-positive Korean adults (females, 81.9%; males, 74.6%) were unaware of their HBsAg seropositivity status. We found that sex (female: prevalence ratio [PR] 1.19), household income (low: PR, 1.15), marital status (never married: PR, 1.18), self-rated health (moderate: PR, 1.14; good: PR, 1.12), and alcohol use (at least 2-3 times/wk: PR, 1.21) were associated with being unaware. In females, age (50 to 59 years: PR, 1.29; > or =70 years: PR, 1.30), household income (low: PR, 1.37; middle-low: PR, 1.24), and marital status (never married: PR, 1.33) were associated with being unaware. In males, self-rated health (moderate: PR, 1.14; good: PR, 1.21) and alcohol use (at least 2-3 times/wk: PR, 1.21) were associated with being unaware. CONCLUSIONS: Factors related to the socioeconomic status of females and the health-related behaviors of males were found to be associated with being unaware of one's HBsAg seropositivity status.
Adult ; Aged ; Alcohol Drinking ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Awareness/*physiology ; Body Mass Index ; Female ; Health Status ; Hepatitis B/*diagnosis/epidemiology/virology ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/*blood ; Hepatitis B virus/*metabolism ; Humans ; Income ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nutrition Surveys ; Poisson Distribution ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Sex Factors ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in South Korea have been organizing hepatitis B virus (HBV) vertical infection prevention projects since July 2002. In this single-institute study, the results of surveys conducted in target mothers who delivered babies in a tertiary hospital were investigated and analyzed. METHODS: Of the 9,281 mothers and their 9,824 neonates born between July 2002 and December 2012, 308 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive mothers and their 319 neonates were selected for this study, and their records were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: A total of 308 mothers were HBsAg-positive, with an HBV prevalence of 3.32% (308/9,281). There were 319 neonates born to these HBsAg-positive mothers, and 252 were confirmed to as either HBsAg-positive or -negative. Four were confirmed as HBsAg-positive, with a 1.59% (4/252) HBV vertical infection rate. All the mothers of neonates who had an HBV vertical infection were hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive. Among the HBsAg-positive neonates, three were HBeAg-positive and had an HBV DNA titer of 1.0 x 10(8) copies/mL. CONCLUSIONS: The HBV prevalence of mothers was 3.32% (308/9,281), and their vertical infection rate was 1.59% (4/252). Thus, the South Korean HBV vertical infection prevention projects are effective, and, accordingly, HBV prevalence in South Korea is expected to decrease continuously.
Adult ; Biological Markers/blood ; DNA, Viral/blood ; Female ; Health Surveys ; Hepatitis B/blood/diagnosis/epidemiology/prevention & control/*transmission/virology ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/blood ; Hepatitis B e Antigens/blood ; Hepatitis B virus/genetics/immunology ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; *Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical/prevention & control ; *National Health Programs ; Pregnancy ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies ; *Tertiary Care Centers ; Viral Load

Occult HBV infection is characterized by the absence of serum HBsAg with persistence of low level of intrahepatic HBV DNA. Several suggested mechanisms for the origin of occult HBV infection include strong suppression of viral replication and gene expression, mutation in the regulatory regions of HBV genome, formation of immunoglobulin-bound HBsAg, viral interference, and blockage of HBsAg secretion from infected hepatocytes. Standardized assays are not yet available, and sensitive HBV DNA amplification assay is necessary for the diagnosis of cryptic infection. Detection rate of HBV DNA is highest in IgG anti-HBc positive population. However, neither anti-HBc nor anti-HBs can be detected in a significant proportion of infected persons. Occult HBV infection occurs in a number of clinical settings and is highly prevalent in HCV-infected patients as well as in patients with cryptogenic chronic liver disease including hepatocellular carcinoma.
DNA, Viral/analysis ; Hepatitis B/*diagnosis/*epidemiology/metabolism ; Hepatitis B Antibodies/blood ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens/immunology ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/blood ; Humans

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The prevalence of occult HBV infection depends on the prevalence of HBV infection in the general population. Hemodialysis patients are at increased risk for HBV infection. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of occult HBV infection in hemodialysis patients. METHODS: Total of 98 patients undergoing hemodialysis in CHA Bundang Medical Center (Seongnam, Korea) were included. Liver function tests and analysis of HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc and anti-HCV were performed. HBV DNA testing was conducted by using two specific quantitative methods. RESULTS: HBsAg was detected in 4 of 98 patients (4.1%), and they were excluded. Among 94 patients with HBsAg negative and anti-HCV negative, one (1.1%) patient with the TaqMan PCR test and 3 (3.2%) patients with the COBAS Amplicor HBV test were positive for HBV DNA. One patient was positive in both methods. Two patients were positive for both anti-HBs and anti-HBc and one patient was negative for both anti-HBs and anti-HBc. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed the prevalence of occult HBV infection in HBsAg negative and anti-HCV negative patients on hemodialysis at our center was 3.2%. Because there is possibility of HBV transmission in HBsAg negative patients on hemodialysis, more attention should be given to prevent HBV transmission.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antibodies/blood ; DNA, Viral/analysis ; Feces/*virology ; Female ; Hepatitis B/complications/*epidemiology/transmission ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens/immunology ; Hepatitis B virus/genetics/immunology ; Hepatitis C Antibodies/blood ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/*complications/diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence ; Renal Dialysis ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the major cause of chronic liver disease in Korea, but viral prevalence has decreased because of hepatitis B vaccination programs. In this study, we investigated longitudinal changes in HBV in fection in the general Korean population. METHODS: HBV surface antigen (hepatitis B surface antigen, HBsAg) seropositivity was assessed from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (I to V). In total, 50,140 subjects were tested for serum HBsAg positivity over a period of 12 years (1998 to 2010). RESULTS: The prevalence of HBsAg seropositivity decreased over the study period. The rates of HBsAg carriers were 4.61% in 1998, 4.60% in 2001, 3.69% in 2005, 3.01% in 2008, and 2.98% in 2010 (p < 0.0001). The reduction in HBV infection rates was more prominent in younger age groups. Among teenagers (10 to 19 years), the percentage of HBsAg carriers decreased from 2.2% in 1998 to 0.12% in 2010 (p < 0.0001). Among those aged 10 to 39 years, the percentage of HBV infection decreased from 4.72% in 1998 to 2.29% in 2010 (p < 0.0001). However, no decreasing trend in HBsAg positivity was observed among those aged 50 or older (p > 0.05). Neither gender nor socioeconomic status were associated with the decreased prevalence of HBsAg carriers. CONCLUSIONS: HBV infection has decreased in the Korean population since the advent of vaccination programs. However, the decrease is limited to the younger population, and viral persistence remains in the middle-aged and older population.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Biological Markers/blood ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Child ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Health Surveys ; Hepatitis B/diagnosis/*epidemiology/prevention & control ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/blood ; Hepatitis B Vaccines/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Longitudinal Studies ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Time Factors ; Young Adult

This study aimed to investigate the status of primary liver cancers found through a routine health check-up. The data of subjects who were diagnosed with primary liver cancer for the first time through a routine health check-up during a period of 8-yr were analyzed. Primary liver cancers were detected for the first time in 34 subjects among 91,219 routine health check-up subjects. Only 11.8% of primary liver cancer subjects had been under previous surveillance. Of them, 55.8% were positive for HBsAg, 17.7% were positive for anti-HCV, and 8.8% were heavy alcohol comsumers. However, 17.7% of the subjects were neither heavy alcohol consumers nor positive for both HBsAg and anti-HCV. Of the subjects, 50.0% had a single nodular tumor, 23.5% had multi-nodular tumors, and 26.5% had an infiltrative tumor. A routine health check-up may provide beneficial opportunities to detect a liver cancer in a very early stage. It is beneficial to start surveillance in high-risk subjects for liver cancer or to detect any liver cancer in subjects without risk factors of chronic viral hepatitis or heavy alcohol consumption.
Age Factors ; Alcohol Drinking ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/blood ; Hepatitis C Antibodies/blood ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/*diagnosis/epidemiology/ultrasonography ; Questionnaires ; Sex Factors ; Smoking ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Because Mongolia has much higher liver disease burden than any other regions of the world, it is necessary to provide information on real-time situation of chronic liver disease in Mongolia. In this article, we reviewed studies performed in Mongolia from 2000 to 2011 on seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) among healthy individuals and patients with chronic liver diseases, and on the practice patterns for the management of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). According to previous reports, the seroprevalence of HBV and HCV in general population in Mongolia is very high (11.8% and 15% for HBV and HCV, respectively). Liver cirrhosis is also highly prevalent, and mortality from liver cirrhosis remained high for the past decade (about 30 deaths per 100,000 populations per year). Among patients with cirrhosis, 40% and 39% are positive for HBsAg and anti-HCV, respectively, and 20% are positive for both. The seroprevalence is similar for HCC and more than 90% of HCC patients are positive for either HBV or HCV. The incidence of HCC in Mongolia is currently among the highest in the world. The mortality from HCC is also very high (52.2 deaths per 100,000 persons per year in 2010). Partly due to the lack of established surveillance systems, most cases of HCC are diagnosed at an advanced stage. The mortality from liver cirrhosis and HCC in Mongolia may be reduced by implementation of antiviral therapy program and control of alcohol consumption.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/blood/diagnosis/*epidemiology/mortality/therapy ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/epidemiology ; Hepatitis C, Chronic/epidemiology ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis/epidemiology ; Liver Diseases/blood/diagnosis/*epidemiology/mortality/therapy ; Liver Neoplasms/blood/diagnosis/*epidemiology/mortality/therapy ; Mongolia/epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Prognosis ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Time Factors

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Many patients are diagnosed with cryptogenic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) without metabolic syndrome (MS). We investigated the risk factors for cryptogenic HCC in patients with a low body mass index (BMI) or without MS. METHODS: Thirty-six patients were diagnosed with cryptogenic HCC over a 10-year period at a tertiary research hospital. Data including BMI score and risk factors for MS were analyzed retrospectively. Patients with fewer than two risk factors for MS (n = 16) were compared with those with two or more risk factors (n = 20). Patients with high BMI (> or = 23 kg/m2, n = 20) were also compared with those with lower BMI (n = 16). RESULTS: Patients with fewer than two risk factors for MS were significantly more likely to smoke and be hepatitis B surface antibodies (anti-HBs)-positive vs. patients with two or more risk factors. However, only smoking was statistically significant on multivariate analysis. Peaks of BMI were observed in two regions. Lower BMI was significantly associated with the presence of anti-HBs compared with high BMI, although this association was not statistically significant on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking is a potential risk factor for cryptogenic HCC in patients without MS. Remote hepatitis B virus infection may be a risk factor for cryptogenic HCC in patients without MS or with a low BMI.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; *Body Mass Index ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*epidemiology ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Female ; Hepatitis B/diagnosis/epidemiology ; Hepatitis B Antibodies/blood ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/immunology ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/*epidemiology ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome X/*epidemiology ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Odds Ratio ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors ; Smoking/adverse effects/epidemiology ; Time Factors

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B remains the most common transfusion-transmitted viral infection. We explored the current status of pre-transfusion screening and post-transfusion follow-up testing for hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibodies (anti-HBs) in blood recipients from an area of high HBV endemicity. METHODS: A total of 7,780 blood recipients were transfused with at least 1 unit of blood component at a single university hospital in Korea between January 2006 and December 2009. Their medical records were reviewed, and their demographic and transfusion-related data were analyzed. RESULTS: Pre-transfusion HBsAg and anti-HBs levels were tested in 77.6% (6,037/7,780) of the recipients. The results varied widely according to recipient age. In all, 32.8% (1,982/6,037) of the recipients who were tested had dual negative pre-transfusion results for HBsAg and anti-HBs and, therefore, were at increased risk of HBV transmission. Post-transfusion follow-up testing for HBsAg and/or anti-HBs was performed in 22% (436/1,982) of the increased-risk group. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that current transfusion-related laboratory testing practice is not sufficient to properly investigate possible post-transfusion infections. Routine laboratory tests, including HBsAg and anti-HBs, should be recommended in transfusion guidelines.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; *Blood Transfusion ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cohort Studies ; Demography ; Endemic Diseases ; Female ; Hepatitis B/*diagnosis/epidemiology/*transmission ; Hepatitis B Antibodies/*blood ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/*blood ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk