Eun Sun Jang1, Moran Ki2, Hwa Young Choi2, Kyung-Ah Kim3, Sook-Hyang Jeong4. 1. Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, 82 Gumi-ro, 173 Beon-gil, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. 2. Department of Cancer Control and Population Health, Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Gyeonggi, South Korea. 3. Department of Internal Medicine, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Goyang, Gyeonggi, South Korea. 4. Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, 82 Gumi-ro, 173 Beon-gil, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. jsh@snubh.org.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) requires epidemiological monitoring to estimate its disease burden and to develop countermeasures. This study aimed to investigate the difference between the 2015 and 2009 nationwide anti-HCV seroprevalence and to determine linkage to care estimates in South Korea. METHODS: A total 268,422 examinees ≥ 20 years old were included in 2015 from 33 medical institutions nationwide. Electronically extracted data were retrospectively analyzed to calculate the age-, sex-, and area-adjusted anti-HCV prevalence. Seroprevalence in 2015 was measured using the same method as that in 2009. For anti-HCV-positive subjects, medical records were reviewed to see whether HCV RNA testing or antiviral treatment was performed. RESULTS: Adjusted anti-HCV prevalence was 0.60% (95% confidence interval, 0.57-0.63) based on general Korean population in 2015. It showed an increasing trend according to age; 0.23% in thirties, 0.38% in forties, 0.63% in fifties, 1.08% in sixties, and 1.65% in those aged ≥ 70 years. From 2009 to 2015, the adjusted anti-HCV prevalence decreased by 30%, with odds ratio of 0.70 (95% CI 0.70-0.71). There was significant intranational regional variation and changing pattern of seroprevalence. Among 1359 anti-HCV-positive subjects, HCV RNA test was performed in 60% and 25.4% had positivity. Treatment-initiated and cured rates in 2015 were 18.5% and 10.9%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-HCV prevalence in South Korea was 0.6% in 2015, showing a 30% decrease from that in 2009. Although the HCV RNA testing rate was increased since 2009, this remains suboptimal. Moreover, the treatment uptake rate should be improved in South Korea.
BACKGROUND:Hepatitis C virus (HCV) requires epidemiological monitoring to estimate its disease burden and to develop countermeasures. This study aimed to investigate the difference between the 2015 and 2009 nationwide anti-HCV seroprevalence and to determine linkage to care estimates in South Korea. METHODS: A total 268,422 examinees ≥ 20 years old were included in 2015 from 33 medical institutions nationwide. Electronically extracted data were retrospectively analyzed to calculate the age-, sex-, and area-adjusted anti-HCV prevalence. Seroprevalence in 2015 was measured using the same method as that in 2009. For anti-HCV-positive subjects, medical records were reviewed to see whether HCV RNA testing or antiviral treatment was performed. RESULTS: Adjusted anti-HCV prevalence was 0.60% (95% confidence interval, 0.57-0.63) based on general Korean population in 2015. It showed an increasing trend according to age; 0.23% in thirties, 0.38% in forties, 0.63% in fifties, 1.08% in sixties, and 1.65% in those aged ≥ 70 years. From 2009 to 2015, the adjusted anti-HCV prevalence decreased by 30%, with odds ratio of 0.70 (95% CI 0.70-0.71). There was significant intranational regional variation and changing pattern of seroprevalence. Among 1359 anti-HCV-positive subjects, HCV RNA test was performed in 60% and 25.4% had positivity. Treatment-initiated and cured rates in 2015 were 18.5% and 10.9%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-HCV prevalence in South Korea was 0.6% in 2015, showing a 30% decrease from that in 2009. Although the HCV RNA testing rate was increased since 2009, this remains suboptimal. Moreover, the treatment uptake rate should be improved in South Korea.
Authors: M J Alter; D Kruszon-Moran; O V Nainan; G M McQuillan; F Gao; L A Moyer; R A Kaslow; H S Margolis Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 1999-08-19 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Do Young Kim; In Hee Kim; Sook-Hyang Jeong; Yong Kyun Cho; Joon Hyoek Lee; Young-Joo Jin; Don Lee; Dong Jin Suh; Kwang-Hyub Han; Neung Hwa Park; Ha Yan Kang; Young Kul Jung; Young Seok Kim; Kyung-Ah Kim; Youn Jae Lee; Byung Seok Lee; Hyung Joon Yim; Heon Ju Lee; Soon Koo Baik; Won Young Tak; Sun Jae Lee; Woo Jin Chung; Sung-Kyu Choi; Eun-Young Cho; Jeong Heo; Dong Joon Kim; Byung-Cheol Song; Man Woo Kim; Jun Lee; Hee Bok Chae; Dae Hee Choi; Hwa Young Choi; Moran Ki Journal: Liver Int Date: 2013-01-29 Impact factor: 5.828
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Authors: Seok Hoo Jeong; Young Kul Jung; Jae Won Yang; Sang Jin Park; Jong Woo Kim; Oh Sang Kwon; Yun Soo Kim; Duck Joo Choi; Ju Hyun Kim Journal: Clin Mol Hepatol Date: 2012-12-21