Revista Clinica Espanola
Volume 208, Issue 9, 2008, Pages 426-431

Seroprevalence of chronic viral hepatitis markers in 791 recent immigrants in Catalonia, Spain. Screening and vaccination against hepatitis B recommendations [Seroprevalencia de marcadores de hepatitis crónica vírica en 791 inmigrantes recientes en Cataluña, España. Recomendaciones de cribado y de vacunación contra la hepatitis B] (Article)

Valerio Ll.* , Barro S. , Pérez B. , Roca C. , Fernández J. , Solsona L. , Aguilar A. , Escribà J.M.
  • a Medicina Familiar Y Comunitaria, Unidad de Salut Internacional del Barcelonès Nord I Maresme, ICS, Sta. Coloma de Gramenet. Barcelona, Spain, Unidad de Salud Internacional del Barcelonès Nord I Maresme, C/ Jacint Verdaguer 118, 08923 Santa Coloma de Gramenet. Barcelona, Spain
  • b Medicina Familiar Y Comunitaria, Área Básica Sanitaria St. Gervasi, PANEM, Barcelona, Spain
  • c Medicina Familiar Y Comunitaria, Área Básica Sanitaria Tarragona-4, Xarxa Sanitaria I Social Sta. Tecla, Tarragona, Spain
  • d Medicina Familiar Y Comunitaria, Área Básica Sanitaria El Clot, ICS, Barcelona, Spain
  • e Medicina Familiar Y Comunitaria, Área Básica Sanitaria Besòs, ICS, St. Adrià del Besòs. Barcelona, Spain
  • f Medicina Familiar Y Comunitaria, Área Básica Sanitaria la Florida Nord, ICS, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat. Barcelona, Spain
  • g Medicina Familiar Y Comunitaria, Área Básica Sanitaria la Florida Sud, ICS, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat. Barcelona, Spain
  • h Servicio de Atención Primaria Dreta de l'Eixample, ICS, Barcelona, Spain

Abstract

Introduction. The prevalence of chronic viral hepatitis in the European Union (EU) will vary because of the immigrants coming from countries having an elevated with a higher endemicity of hepatitis B (HBV) and C virus (HCV). Serologic screening in healthy immigrants is a subject that has been discussed in the areas of feasibility, ethics and cost-effectiveness. The main study aims were: a) to know the prevalence of chronic hepatitis markers and, b) to determine the best cost-effectiveness strategy of vaccination against hepatitis B. Population and Method. An observational, perspective and multicenter study was performed on the Primary Care level in Catalonia (Spain) among healthy immigrants who had lived in the EU for less than 5 years. Results. Data from 791 individuals were analyzed. They presented anti-HBc+ 33% (95% CI 29.6 -36.1), and anti-HBs+ 16.1% (95% CI 11.4 -20.8). HBsAg+ was 5.9% (95% CI 3-8.7), of those were HBeAg+ 15.62% (95% CI 5.3-32.8). The sub-Saharan group presented the higher prevalence of anti-HBc+ (77.3%) and HBsAg+ (18.2%), whereas the Latin American-origin population displayed the lowest one (12.5% and 1.2%, respectively). Determination of antibodies prior to vaccination was found as cost-effective from a seroprevalence anti-HBc+> 48.72%; only overcome by the CI of sub-Saharan population (95% CI 5.3-32.8). The prevalence of anti-HC+ was 6.1% (95% CI 4.3-7.8), especially high among the Eastern European (19.6%) and Indostanic (14.9%) population. The Latin American group had the lowest prevalence (1.4%). Conclusions. The prevalence of chronic viral hepatitis markers is found to be at an intermediate level between those described by primary and specialized care levels. The prevalences of HBsAg+ and anti-HC+ in the immigrant population, on the whole, are such that it is advisable to screening for them, with the exception of the Latin American community. Previous serologic determination of markers is only cost-effective among the sub-Saharan community.

Author Keywords

immigrants Spain Hepatitis B Hepatitis C Prevalence

Index Keywords

immigrant adefovir dipivoxil membrane antigen Prospective Studies human ethics ethnic group Hepatitis C virus Hepatitis C, Chronic entecavir Hepatitis B virus screening health care cost Humans male Spain female chronic hepatitis European Union marker Article hepatitis B antibody antibody specificity alpha interferon major clinical study adult Hepatitis B, Chronic serology lamivudine endemic disease hepatitis C antibody Hepatitis C Antibodies Transients and Migrants vaccination hepatitis B seroprevalence Seroepidemiologic Studies Hepatitis B Antibodies Hepatitis B Core Antigens disease marker cost effectiveness analysis
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-60149108329&doi=10.1157%2f13127602&partnerID=40&md5=6a2622f8c1321bd76484080cb90f875b
DOI: 10.1157/13127602
ISSN: 00142565
Cited by: 13
Original Language: Spanish