Nationwide seroepidemiology of hepatitis B virus infection in South Korea in 2009 emphasizes the coexistence of HBsAg and anti‐HBs

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the major cause of chronic liver disease in Korea. This study investigated the seroprevalence of HBV infection with an emphasis on the coexistence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody (anti-HBs). In all, 290,212 people undergoing health check-up examinations in 29 institutions during 2009 were recruited. The crude seroprevalences of HBsAg and anti-HBs was adjusted by age, sex, and geographic area using the 2009 estimated population of Korea. The adjusted seroprevalences of HBsAg and anti-HBs was 4.0% and 73.5%, respectively. Males showed higher HBsAg positivity and lower anti-HBs positivity than females (P<0.001). HBsAg positivity increased with age from 3.5% in people 20-29 years old to 4.8% in people 40-49 years old, followed by a decrease in people ≥ 50 years old. HBsAg positivity in Southern provinces (4.5%) including Jeju (5.9%), was significantly higher than that in Central provinces (3.6%; P<0.001). Interestingly, HBsAg and anti-HBs coexisted in 0.1% of the total subjects and in 2.9% of the HBsAg-positive group, showing distinct age distribution and higher alanine aminotransferase levels than those of the group positive for only HBsAg. In conclusion, the seroprevalence of HBsAg and anti-HBs in Korea varies significantly by age, sex and geographical location and coexisted in 2.9% of HBsAg-positive subjects. Continuous monitoring of seroepidemiology may facilitate the eventual eradication of HBV infection.

Prevalence of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Among People Attending Medical Diagnostic Laboratories in Neyshabur, Northeast of Iran, During Years 2011 to 2015

“…However, the continuity of protection presented by preliminary vaccination remained unknown (27). The adjusted seroprevalence of HBsAg in South Korea in 2009 was 4%, which was in agreement with the current study (15). The prevalence of HBsAg in young adults in Banjarmasin, Indonesia was 4.6% (28).…”

Analysis of Complete Nucleotide Sequences of Angolan Hepatitis B Virus Isolates Reveals the Existence of a Separate Lineage within Genotype E

“…Some previous studies have addressed the simultaneous presence of serum HBsAg and anti-HBs in chronic hepatitis B patients, with rates varying from 3–6% in South Korea [6], [24] to 21% in Singapore [5], 24–32% in the United States [3], [4] and 36% in The Netherlands [2]. In this study, the individuals showing concurrent HBsAg and anti-HBs represented 40% of all HBV carriers, with a 95% confidence interval of 30–51%.…”

Evolution of full-length genomes of HBV quasispecies in sera of patients with a coexistence of HBsAg and anti-HBs antibodies

“…Hence it is a conundrum when both HBsAg and anti-HBs are present in same serological profile 5 . However, incidences of coexisting of HBsAg and anti-HBs among HBsAg positive patients has been increasingly reported, which is nearly 5% in China 5 , 21% in Japan 6 , 36% in Netherlands 7 , 2.8% in France 8 , 2.9% in South Korea 9 , varies from 2.8% to 36% 5–10 and progressively increases with patient age from 40 to 70 years old 11 .…”