A nationwide cross-sectional survey on hepatitis B and C screening among workers in Japan

Tatemichi, Masayuki; Furuya, Hiroyuki; Nagahama, Satsue; Takaya, Norihide; Shida, Yukari; Fukai, Kota; Owada, Satoshi; Endo, Hitoshi; Kinoue, Takaaki; Korenaga, Masaaki

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-68021-2

Cited by 9 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…However, patients who became aware of their chronic HCV infection through a health checkup were older than those with chronic HBV infection, particularly males. Although the reason for this difference is unclear, Tatemichi et al (25) reported that only 5.23 and 3.82% of Japanese workers had been screened for HBV and HCV infection, respectively, and significantly more workers had been tested for HBV than for HCV infection. The use of hepatitis virus screening tools during health checkups varies between organizations (e.g., official health checkups vs. health checkups for company employees).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The use of hepatitis virus screening tools during health checkups varies between organizations (e.g., official health checkups vs. health checkups for company employees). HBV infection is recognized as an occupational exposure risk for health care workers and laboratory technicians (25), which may be attributed to the original Japanese Union Health Insurance system in which beneficiaries underwent comprehensive health examinations as part of a mandatory health checkup; these examinations included screening for HBV, but not HCV (25). In female patients, the age when they became aware of their chronic hepatitis virus infection was high, even though it was HBV infection.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Characteristics of patients unaware of their chronic hepatitis virus infection

Okano¹,

Asakawa²,

Nose³

et al. 2021

World Acad Sci J

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A number of patients do not benefit from advancements made in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection due to a lack of awareness of their infection. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the reason for this and to identify strategies to resolve this issue. Data were retrospectively collected from medical records for the period between 2009 and 2019. Patients with chronic HBV or HCV infection who had been referred to the hospital and were unaware of their infection prior to their referral were eligible to participate in the present study. Overall, 282 and 259 patients with chronic HBV and HCV infection, respectively, were referred to the hospital. Of these patients, 63 in each group had been unaware of their infection. Moreover, of the 63 patients, seven already had hepatocellular carcinoma at diagnosis. The female patients with HCV were older than the other patients, including the male patients and the female patients with HBV (P= 0.02), and the patients in the HBV group were younger than those in the HCV group (P= 0.02). The majority of the patients (96/126) had become aware of their infection by chance. In the HBV group, patients whose infection had been detected during a health checkup were significantly younger than those whose infection had been detected by chance (P=0.016), but not in the HCV group. On the whole, these findings suggest that, in order to identify greater numbers of patients with chronic hepatitis infection who are unaware of their infection, the necessity of screening for hepatitis virus in primary care, particularly among women and elderly individuals, should be emphasized and promoted.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characteristics of patients unaware of their chronic hepatitis virus infection

Okano¹,

Asakawa²,

Nose³

et al. 2021

World Acad Sci J

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“…We plan to screen all adult residents in the town of Nagawa (approximately 4500). Since the HCV-positive rate is reportedly 0.35% among workers in Japan [ 14 ], it is estimated that approximately 16 people are HCVAb-positive.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Protocol: Prospective observational study aiming for micro-elimination of hepatitis C virus in Nagawa town: The Nagawa Project

et al. 2021

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Background The World Health Organization has set a goal of hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination by the year 2030. However, no regions in Japan have succeeded in eradicating HCV. Micro-elimination is an approach to attain hepatitis C eradication in which national eradication goals are applied to specific populations so that viral treatment and control efforts can move forward quickly and efficiently. In order to eradicate HCV from Japan, this study aims to achieve HCV micro-elimination in the town of Nagawa. Methods and design The Nagawa Project is an ongoing, prospective, multiple-institution, observational study running from April 1, 2021, to March 31, 2024. All residents of Nagawa town, excluding those under 20 years of age, not consenting to the study, or unable to undergo health check-ups due to nursing care needs, will be included. If found to be HCV antibody-positive, the participant will be recommended to see a doctor in consideration of MAC-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer values. Then, the participant will undergo serum HCV RNA measurement with the real-time polymerase chain reaction by an attending physician. If the participant is HCV RNA-positive, he or she will be referred to a hepatologist for further evaluation. In the case of a definitive diagnosis of chronic hepatitis C, direct acting antiviral treatment will be initiated. Through this process, HCV will be systematically micro-eliminated from the region. Discussion The Nagawa Project will reveal the prevalence of chronic HCV in addition to the HCV eradication rate in Nagawa town towards achieving HCV micro-elimination. Trial registration This study is performed by Shinshu University School of Medicine and was registered as UMIN 000044114 on May 6, 2021.

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“…We investigated institutions that conducted health screenings in the FY 2016 and reported examination rates of 7.8% and 4.9% for HBsAg and anti-HCV, respectively, in the health insurance association for hepatitis virus testing during workplace checkups in the UHI (11). In this survey, there were many people who are examined every year in same Health Administration Center, and it was revealed that about 70% of the respondents underwent hepatitis screening every year over three years, regardless of whether the test was negative or positive.…”

Section: Current Status and Issues Of Viral Hepatitis In The Workplacementioning

confidence: 99%

Testing, diagnosis of viral hepatitis, and the follow-up policy in Japan

Korenaga

Kanto

2021

GHM

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Viral hepatitis is one of the major infectious diseases in Japan and causes liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. Therefore, screening for hepatitis viruses was started in 2002, based on the geriatric health care program. The screening plan has now been transferred to the Health Promotion Project and it is estimated that more than half of the population has been tested for hepatitis viruses. The Basic Act on Hepatitis Measures was enacted in 2009 and the Basic Guidelines for Promotion of Control Measures for hepatitis was issued in 2011. It reported that there were about 770,000 positive people who were unaware that they were infected, and about 0.5 to 1.2 million positive people who knew they were infected but did not continue to receive medical examinations. Ten years have passed since that report and it is estimated that the number of hepatitis virus-positive individuals who need medical examination/treatment is decreasing. Therefore, in order to eradicate viral hepatitis, it is essential to identify areas and age groups in which hepatitis virus testing is inadequate, to encourage people to undergo testing and to promptly send positive patients to hepatologists for continued medical care. This review describes the current status and challenges of hepatitis virus testing measures in Japan, led by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, and the promotion of visits to medical institutions by positive patients.

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A nationwide cross-sectional survey on hepatitis B and C screening among workers in Japan

Cited by 9 publications

References 16 publications

Characteristics of patients unaware of their chronic hepatitis virus infection

Characteristics of patients unaware of their chronic hepatitis virus infection

Protocol: Prospective observational study aiming for micro-elimination of hepatitis C virus in Nagawa town: The Nagawa Project

Testing, diagnosis of viral hepatitis, and the follow-up policy in Japan

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