The distribution of Hepatitis B virus exposure and infection in a population-based sample of US Hispanic adults Journal Article

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Authors: Jung, M; Kuniholm, M. H.; Ho, G. Y.; Cotler, S; Strickler, H. D.; Thyagarajan, B; Youngblood, M; Kaplan, R. C.; Del Amo, J.
Article Title: The distribution of Hepatitis B virus exposure and infection in a population-based sample of US Hispanic adults
Abstract: Little is known regarding the prevalence and distribution of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in United States (US) Hispanics/Latinos. We sought to determine the prevalence of HBV exposure (anti-HBc), active HBV infection (HBsAg), and vaccine-induced HBV immunity (anti-HBs) in US Hispanics/Latinos and consider how these data inform clinical screening recommendations. Our analysis included 11,999 women and men of the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), a population-based, cross-sectional household survey in four urban communities (Bronx, NY; Miami, FL; Chicago, IL; and San Diego, CA) of US civilian, non-institutionalized self-identifying Hispanic/Latino adults age 18-74. Vaccine-induced immunity was defined as detection of anti-HBs but not anti-HBc. However, if anti-HBc were present it was considered evidence of exposure to HBV, with detection of HBsAg used to distinguish those with active HBV infection. The mean age was 45.7 years and 7,153 were women. Vaccine-induced immunity was greatest among those aged 18-29 years (60.2% in women, 54% in men) and decreased with increasing age, regardless of country of birth. The prevalence of active HBV infection was 0.29% (95% CI: 0.19-0.43%), but varied by country of birth. Those born in the Dominican Republic had the highest prevalence of HBV exposure (20.3% in women, 29.7% in men) and active HBV infection (0.95%). CONCLUSIONS: The overall age-standardized prevalence of active HBV infection in Hispanic/Latino adults (0.29%) was no different to the general US population estimate (0.27%) and did not exceed 2%, regardless of country of birth. These data do not support targeting HBV screening to US Hispanic/Latino adults based upon background. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Journal Title: Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.)
ISSN: 1527-3350; 0270-9139
Publisher: by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases  
Date Published: 2015
Language: ENG
DOI/URL:

10.1002/hep.28328
Notes: LR: 20151118; CI: (c) 2015; GR: N01 HC065235/HC/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States; JID: 8302946; OTO: NOTNLM; 2015/04/27 [received]; 2015/10/26 [revised]; 2015/10/29 [accepted]; aheadofprint