Pilot study for hepatitis virus screening among employees as an effective approach to encourage employees who screened positive to receive medical care in Japan.

Abstract

Countermeasures against hepatitis B and C virus (HBV, HCV) infection at work sites in Japan have not yet been implemented. This study aimed to determine the status of viral hepatitis infection among employees in Japan. We undertook a workplace-based cross-sectional study from 2011 to 2016 in Hiroshima, Japan. Hepatitis B virus and HCV markers were identified during a routine checkup of employees in 15 enterprises. The screening results were sent to employees directly and not to employers. A thorough examination of the participants who screened positive was encouraged by forwarding to them a referral letter by our research group to specialized medical institutions. Of the 3015 employees, 2420 (80.3%) underwent hepatitis virus screening. Of these, 13.8% had been screened for hepatitis virus before this survey. The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen was 0.95% (n = 23; 95% confidence interval, 0.6-1.3%). The prevalence of hepatitis B core antibody was as high as 31.5% at age 60-69years, and 41.5% at age 70years and over. The HCV carrier rate was 0.45% (n = 11; 0.2-0.7%) and 54.5% of them had genotype 2. Thirty-four carriers were detected, and 44.1% of them were detected for the first time; 53.3% of the newly detected carriers visited medical institutions with the referral, and underwent a periodic follow-up or treatment. Promoting hepatitis virus screening for employees may help detect carriers who are unaware of their infection and require treatment. Submitting the results to employees with a referral letter to medical institutions at the time of positive diagnosis may be effective.