Meta-regression Analysis of Sex- and Birth Year-Specific Prevalence of HBsAg and Anti-HCV Among Un-diagnosed Japanese: Data From the First-time Blood Donors, Periodical Health Checkup, and the Comprehensive Health Checkup With Lifestyle Education (Ningen Dock).

Tomoyuki Akita,Masahiro Satake,Takashi Wada,Kiminori Kato,Junko Tanaka,Yingsong Lin,Manami Inoue

doi:10.2188/jea.je20190055

Abstract

BackgroundThis study was aimed to precisely estimate the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV) stratified by sex and birth year in Japan.MethodsThree large-scaled cohorts: first-time blood donors, periodic health check-up, and comprehensive health check-up with lifestyle education (Ningen dock) were used for pooled prevalence of HBsAg and anti-HCV using meta-regression.ResultsTrends of birth year-specific prevalence of HBsAg and anti-HCV among the three cohorts were similar to one another, while birth year-specific pooled prevalence of HBsAg peaked in the 1941–1950 birth cohort. Prevalence of anti-HCV showed a decreasing trend by birth year.ConclusionWe could estimate the pooled prevalence of HBsAg and anti-HCV based on nationwide data. The results can be used as reference data for various countermeasures for hepatitis eradication.

Highlights

1.4 million people died due to hepatitis virus infection yearly.[1,2,3] Mortality due to hepatitis was higher than that due to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or malaria, and viral hepatitis has become one of the main causes of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.[3]
In 2015, it was estimated that 257 million people were persistently infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and 71 million with hepatitis C virus (HCV).[1,2]
In Japan, advanced countermeasures for hepatitis, such as prevention of vertical infection of HBV, screening of blood for transfusion, and hepatitis virus screening for residents, were first introduced ahead of others in the world.[4]

Summary

Introduction

1.4 million people died due to hepatitis virus infection yearly.[1,2,3] Mortality due to hepatitis was higher than that due to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or malaria, and viral hepatitis has become one of the main causes of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.[3] In 2015, it was estimated that 257 million people were persistently infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and 71 million with hepatitis C virus (HCV).[1,2]. In Japan, advanced countermeasures for hepatitis, such as prevention of vertical infection of HBV, screening of blood for transfusion, and hepatitis virus screening for residents, were first introduced ahead of others in the world.[4] These virus infections are currently under control in Japan, with positive rates varying by birth year rather than age. It is important to know the number of hepatitis virus carriers (persistent infection), and that number is basic information for viral hepatitis and liver cancer countermeasures. This study was aimed to precisely estimate the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antihepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV) stratified by sex and birth year in Japan

Objectives

Results

Conclusion