Prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis C virus infection among Koreans in rural area of Korea

Shin, Hai Rim; Kim, Joon Youn; Ohno, Tomoyoshi; Chen, Kun; Mizokami, Masashi; Risch, Harvey A.; Kim, Soo Ryang

doi:10.1016/s1386-6346(99)00074-1

Cited by 32 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Parenteral exposure has been well documented as a major risk factor for HCV transmission [17][18][19][20][21][22]. In our study, all eight cases had at least one parenteral risk factor.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 51%

“…In our study, all eight cases had at least one parenteral risk factor. The practice of unsafe injections in the healthcare settings as a major contributor to HCV transmission in developing countries is well accepted [18,20,23]. The World Health Organization has estimated that 16 billion health care injections are administered annually in its developing and transitional member countries [24] and that overuse and unsafe injecting are at epidemic proportions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[25]. Healthcare settings have several potential parenteral contributors to HCV transmission, with blood transfusion, surgery, dental treatment, acupuncture and therapeutic injections (especially with nondisposable syringes), and high frequency of injection documented as independent predictors of HCV infection [18,20,23,[26][27][28][29][30]. Those who had ever been in a hospital were 2.1 to 3.7 times more likely to have acquired HCV [20,26,[28][29][30][31][32].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Prevalence and risk factors for hepatitis C infection in rural north Vietnam

2007

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Background In Vietnam, the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among injecting drug users and patients with liver disease is known to be high, yet the magnitude of HCV in the general population, particularly in rural areas, has not been clearly estimated. A community-based study was used to determine the prevalence of HCV infection in a rural population of north Vietnam and explore risk factors associated with HCV acquisition. Method A community-based viral hepatitis seroprevalence study using a multistage sampling method to recruit participants was undertaken. The study population size (n = 837) had been determined on the basis of estimated hepatitis B virus (HBV) prevalence. Information on demography and potential risk factors were obtained using face-to-face interviews, and all selected participants were tested for anti-HCV antibody. Results HCV prevalence in the study population was 1.0% (95% CI: 0.4%-1.9%). Hospital admission (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 7.19; 95% CI: 1.59-32.53; P = .01) and having tattoos (AOR: 13.37: 95% CI: 1.86-96.15; P = .01) were independent predictors of HCV infection, and farmers were less likely to have HCV infection than those in other occupations (AOR: 0.19; 95% CI: 0.04-0.84; P = .02). Conclusion The prevalence of HCV infection is low in the general rural population in northern Vietnam. An association between HCV infection and hospital admission and tattoos indicate a need to improve the standards of infection control in healthcare and other settings in this region.

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“…Parenteral exposure has been well documented as a major risk factor for HCV transmission [17][18][19][20][21][22]. In our study, all eight cases had at least one parenteral risk factor.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 51%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Prevalence and risk factors for hepatitis C infection in rural north Vietnam

2007

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“…However, the reported prevalence of hepatitis B carrier and hepatitis C was about 5% and less than compared the previous era in Korea. 35,36 So it could not be an important confounder in our population study. Second, we had only one measurement of ALT.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Metabolic syndrome and ALT: a community study in adult Koreans

Nam

et al. 2004

Int J Obes

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OBJECTIVE:To investigate an association between the metabolic syndrome (MS) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) of normal ranges. DESIGN: A population-based cross-sectional survey in three rural communities, South Korea. SUBJECTS: A total of 1248 men and 2157 women aged 30 y and older. MEASUREMENTS: Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, fasting blood lipid and glucose, resting blood pressure, and ALT. RESULTS: ALT and BMI increased with an addition of the MS components. A consistent association between ALT more than 15 IU/l and the MS was found in both sexes, independently of age, education, BMI, smoking, alcohol drinking, and sedentary life style. The odds ratios for the MS in the highest quintiles of ALT were 7.1-fold higher than the reference quintile in men and 2.1-fold higher in women. The likelihood ratio tests for trend were also significant with ALT increments (Po0.001 for trend). CONCLUSION: The MS is significantly associated with the higher quintiles of normal ALT in both genders. ALT could be a sensitive marker of hepatic dysfunction associated with the MS, even in the range below the current limit.

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“…Indeed, a history of acupuncture has been reported by more than one third of subjects in a study in South Korea (Shin et al, 2000). Major indications for acupuncture include arthritis and other joint diseases, the sequelae of trauma, headache, and a broad range of minor diseases not responding to conventional medical treatments (http://www.acu.pe.kr).A survey in 1993 in a rural district showed a high prevalence of anti-HCV (5.5% among subjects over 10 years of age) and suggested a role for parenteral viral exposure other than blood transfusion (Shin et al, 2000). We therefore conducted a crosssectional study in a different part of the same rural area.…”

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confidence: 99%

Hepatitis B and C virus prevalence in a rural area of South Korea: the role of acupuncture

Shin

Kim

et al. 2002

Br J Cancer

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A cross-sectional study evaluated the prevalence of and the risk factors for hepatitis C and B viruses among 700 adults above the age of 40 years in a rural area of South Korea. Seropositivity for hepatitis C virus antibody (11.0%, 95% confidence interval: 8.7 -13.6) was higher than that for hepatitis B surface antigen (4.4%, 95% confidence interval: 3.0 -6.2). Anti-hepatitis C virus seropositivity was associated with a history of repeated acupuncture (odds ratio=2.1, 95% confidence interval: 1.1 -4.0), and blood transfusion (odds ratio=5.5, 95% confidence interval: 1.6 -19.3) before 1992 when hepatitis C virus screening in blood donors became mandatory. Hepatitis C virus 2a was the most prevalent genotype, followed by 1b. Hepatitis C virus risk attributable to acupuncture was 38% (9% for men and 55% for women). Safer acupuncture practice has become a priority for hepatitis C virus prevention in South Korea. Liver cancer mortality in South Korea is one of the highest in the world at 30.3 and 9.7 per 100 000 for men and women, respectively (world age-standardised WHO, 1998). Both hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV and HCV) infection are strong risk factors for the development of liver cancer in South Korea (Shin et al, 1996), as well as in other countries (IARC, 1994). In 1991, HBV was found to be the most important risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Korea (Yoo et al, 1991). Since then, however, HCV infection has shown a stronger association in elderly HCC patients (Lee et al, 1993;Huh et al, 1998).Since the introduction of an HCV antibody (anti-HCV) test for screening blood donors in Korea in April 1991, HCV exposure among blood recipients has decreased. However, HCV transmission may still be prevalent in certain areas, due to such practices as acupuncture. Indeed, a history of acupuncture has been reported by more than one third of subjects in a study in South Korea (Shin et al, 2000). Major indications for acupuncture include arthritis and other joint diseases, the sequelae of trauma, headache, and a broad range of minor diseases not responding to conventional medical treatments (http://www.acu.pe.kr).A survey in 1993 in a rural district showed a high prevalence of anti-HCV (5.5% among subjects over 10 years of age) and suggested a role for parenteral viral exposure other than blood transfusion (Shin et al, 2000). We therefore conducted a crosssectional study in a different part of the same rural area. METHODS Study area and subjectsThe study area was in a rural part of south-east Korea (population 4500) where mortality rates for liver cancer are 120% and 50% higher than the national average in men and women, respectively (Lee et al, 2001). The majority of the population in the study area is employed in agriculture, and their socio-cultural characteristics are similar to those in other rural areas in Korea.In 1999, the 2299 inhabitants of the area over 40 years of age formed the target population for a survey in the preparation for a large prospective cohort study (Yoo et al, 2002). The survey aimed...

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Prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis C virus infection among Koreans in rural area of Korea

Cited by 32 publications

References 19 publications

Prevalence and risk factors for hepatitis C infection in rural north Vietnam

Prevalence and risk factors for hepatitis C infection in rural north Vietnam

Metabolic syndrome and ALT: a community study in adult Koreans

Hepatitis B and C virus prevalence in a rural area of South Korea: the role of acupuncture

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