Viral hepatitis infections in southern Taiwan: a multicenter community-based study.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are major causes of liver disease in Taiwan and have a great impact on the health of this country. This study investigated the seroprevalence of HBV and HCV in southern Taiwan. Screening programs were performed from September 1999 to August 2005 for community-based surveillance of liver disease. A total of 28,797 adults from southern Taiwan, including Kaohsiung City (n = 14,036), Kaohsiung County (n = 7,713), and Pingtung County (n = 7,048) were participated. The mean age was 50.3 ± 14.6 years (range, 20-97 years), with 41.0% were men. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody to HCV (anti-HCV), and liver function tests were performed. Among the 28,797 adults, the prevalence of HBsAg(+) was 15.1% and that for anti-HCV(+) was 8.6%. The seroprevalence of HBsAg in Kaohsiung County was 18.2%, which was higher than in Kaohsiung City (14.7%, p < 0.001) or Pingtung County (12.5%, p < 0.001). The seroprevalence of anti-HCV in Kaohsiung County was 17.2%, which was higher than in the other regions (Kaohsiung City = 5.8%, p < 0.001; Pingtung County = 4.6%, p < 0.001). The prevalence of dual HBsAg and anti-HCV was 1.1% (323 patients). Tzukuan Township in Kaohsiung County was endemic for HBsAg (19.1%, 1,026/5,375 patients), anti-HCV (22.4%, 1,203/5,375 patients), and dual HBsAg/anti-HCV (3.6%, 191/5,375 patients). Subjects with anti-HCV(+) were older and had higher alanine transaminase levels than their HBsAg(+) counterparts (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). The current study shows the epidemiological characteristics of HBV and HCV infections among adults in southern Taiwan. Viral hepatitis infections remain widely endemic in this region.