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Son H, Ahn S, Park W, Chun G, Go U, Lee SG, Lee EH. Gender differences in hepatitis A seropositivity rates according to the Republic of Korea's vaccination policy. Osong Public Health Res Perspect 2024; 15:168-173. [PMID: 38621763 PMCID: PMC11082439 DOI: 10.24171/j.phrp.2023.0263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to investigate differences in the anti-hepatitis A virus (HAV) antibody seropositivity rate by age and gender. METHODS We collected information on anti-HAV immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M status from samples submitted for HAV antibody testing in 2012-2022. A total of 1,333,615 cases were included in the analysis. RESULTS By age, the seropositivity rate was represented by a U-shaped curve, such that the rate was low for the group aged 20 to 39 years and higher in those who were younger or older. Over time, the curve shifted rightward, and the seropositivity rate declined gradually in the group aged 35 to 39 years and older. A gender-based difference in antibody seropositivity rate was especially noticeable in the group aged 20 to 29 years. This difference between genders widened in the participants' early 20s-when men in the Republic of Korea enlist in the military-and the divergence continued subsequently for older individuals. CONCLUSION These results indicate a higher risk of severe infection among older individuals and a gender-based difference in seroprevalence. Therefore, it is necessary to implement policies to promote vaccination in adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunjin Son
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Sunhyun Ahn
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Green Cross Laboratories, Yongin, Republic of Korea
| | - Wonseo Park
- Infectious Disease Research Center, Green Cross Laboratories, Yongin, Republic of Korea
| | - Gayoung Chun
- Infectious Disease Research Center, Green Cross Laboratories, Yongin, Republic of Korea
| | - Unyeong Go
- Infectious Disease Research Center, Green Cross Laboratories, Yongin, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Gon Lee
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Green Cross Laboratories, Yongin, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Hee Lee
- Green Cross Laboratories, Yongin, Republic of Korea
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Green MS, Schwartz N, Peer V. Sex differences in hepatitis A incidence rates-a multi-year pooled-analysis based on national data from nine high-income countries. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0287008. [PMID: 37310964 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Possible sex differences in hepatitis A virus (HAV) incidence rates in different age groups are not well documented. We aimed to obtain stable pooled estimates of such differences based on data from a number of high-income countries. METHODS We obtained data on incident cases of HAV by sex and age group over a period of 6-25 years from nine countries: Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Israel, Netherland, New Zealand and Spain. Male to female incidence rate ratios (IRR) were computed for each year, by country and age group. For each age group, we used meta-analytic methods to combine the IRRs. Meta-regression was conducted to estimate the effects of age, country, and time period on the IRR. RESULTS A male excess in incidence rates was consistently observed in all age groups, although in the youngest and oldest age groups, where the numbers tended to be lower, the lower bounds of the 95% confidence intervals for the IRRs were less than one. In the age groups <1, 1-4, 5-9, 10-14, 15-44, 45-64 and 65+, the pooled IRRs (with 95% CI) over countries and time periods were 1.18 (0.94,1.48), 1.22 (1.16,1.29), 1.07 (1.03,1.11), 1.09 (1.04,1.14), 1.46 (1.30,1.64), 1.32 (1.15,1.51) and 1.10 (0.99,1.23) respectively. CONCLUSIONS The excess HAV incidence rates in young males, pooled over a number of countries, suggest that the sex differences are likely to be due at least in part to physiological and biological differences and not just behavioral factors. At older ages, differential exposure plays an important role. These findings, seen in the context of the excess incidence rates in young males for many other infectious diseases, can provide further keys to the mechanisms of the infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Naama Schwartz
- School of Public Health, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Victoria Peer
- School of Public Health, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
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Lim DH, Sohn W, Jeong JY, Oh H, Lee JG, Yoon EL, Kim TY, Nam S, Sohn JH. The chronological changes in the seroprevalence of anti-hepatitis A virus IgG from 2005 to 2019: Experience at four centers in the capital area of South Korea. Medicine (Baltimore) 2022; 101:e31639. [PMID: 36482612 PMCID: PMC9726277 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000031639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Although universal vaccination has been administered to toddlers, South Korea has had periodic nationwide outbreaks of acute hepatitis A since the late 2000s. We examined the chronological changes in the seroprevalence of anti-hepatitis A virus (HAV) immunoglobulin G (IgG) over the past 15 years (2005-2019). We retrospectively collected data from 45,632 subjects who underwent anti-HAV IgG testing without evidence of acute HAV infection at four centers in the capital area of South Korea between January 2005 and December 2019. The seroprevalence of anti-HAV IgG was analyzed according to age and compared among seven age groups and five time periods. Additionally, age-period-cohort analyses were used to identify the age, period, and cohort effects of the seroprevalence of anti-HAV IgG. The mean age of the enrolled subjects was 39.2 ± 19.2 years, and the average anti-HAV IgG positivity rate was 66.4%. During the 15 years, the seroprevalence of anti-HAV IgG in people aged 0 to 19 years significantly increased over time (P < .001). In people aged 20 to 29 years, the seroprevalence slightly decreased to that of the early 2010s (31.3% in 2005-2007 to 19.7% in 2011-2013) but rebounded to 39.5% in 2017 to 2019. In contrast, the seroprevalence of anti-HAV IgG in those aged 30 to 49 years decreased over time (P < .001). The seroprevalence of anti-HAV IgG in those aged 20 to 39 years in 2017 to 2019 was still less than 40%. In addition, the seroprevalence of anti-HAV IgG in people aged 50 to 59 years has recently decreased. Since the introduction of the universal vaccination, the seroprevalence of anti-HAV IgG in children and young adults has gradually increased. However, the seroprevalence of anti-HAV IgG in people in their 20s remains low, and the seroprevalence of anti-HAV IgG in people in their 30s and 40s is gradually decreasing. Therefore, a new strategy for HAV vaccination is needed for those in their 20s to 40s.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dae Hyun Lim
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Won Sohn
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jae Yoon Jeong
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
- * Correspondence: Jae Yoon Jeong, Department of Internal Medicine, National Medical Center, 245, Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul 04564, Republic of Korea (e-mail: )
| | - Hyunwoo Oh
- Department of Internal Medicine, Inje University Sanggye Paik Hospital, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Internal Medicine, Uijeongbu Eulji Medical Center, Eulji University College of Medicine, Uijeongbu, Korea
| | - Jae Gon Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Guri, Korea
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Hwaseong, Korea
| | - Eileen L. Yoon
- Department of Internal Medicine, Inje University Sanggye Paik Hospital, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | | | - Seungwoo Nam
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Joo Hyun Sohn
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Guri, Korea
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Son H, Lee M, Eun Y, Park W, Park K, Kwon S, Kim S, Kim C. An outbreak of hepatitis A associated with salted clams in Busan, Korea. Epidemiol Health 2021; 44:e2022003. [PMID: 34990534 PMCID: PMC8989951 DOI: 10.4178/epih.e2022003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In July 2019, there were multiple reports on patients with hepatitis A among the visitors of a restaurant in Busan. The current study presents the results of an epidemiological investigation and outlines the supplementary measures that would help with hepatitis A control. METHODS A cohort study was conducted for all 2,865 customers who visited restaurant A from June to July. Using a standardized questionnaire, participants reported the presence of hepatitis A symptoms and whether they had consumed any of 19 food items. As for participants who had visited public health centers, their specimens were collected. RESULTS From the study cohort, 155 participants (5.4%) had confirmed hepatitis A. The epidemic curve was unimodal, and the median number of days from the restaurant visit to symptom onset was 31 days. A genotype analysis indicated that 89 of 90 tested patients had hepatitis A virus (HAV) genotype 1A. The results of a multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the ingestion of salted clams increased the risk of hepatitis A by 68.12 times (95% confidence interval [CI], 9.22 to 510.87). In an unopened package of salted clams found and secured through traceback investigation, HAV genotype 1A was detected. CONCLUSIONS To prevent people from ingesting uncooked clams, there needs to be more efforts to publicize the dangers of uncooked clams; the food sampling test standards for salted clams should also be expanded. Furthermore, a laboratory surveillance system based on molecular genetics should be established to detect outbreaks earlier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunjin Son
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Dong-A University, Busan, Korea
| | - Miyoung Lee
- Busan Center for infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Busan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea
| | - Youngduck Eun
- Busan Center for infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Busan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea
| | - Wonseo Park
- Busan Center for infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Busan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea
| | - Kyounghee Park
- Busan Center for infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Busan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea
| | - Sora Kwon
- Busan Center for infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Busan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea
| | - Seungjin Kim
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Changhoon Kim
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Pusan National University, Busan, Korea.,Busan Center for infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Busan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea
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Yun HE, Ryu BY, Choe YJ. Impact of social distancing on incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases, South Korea. J Med Virol 2020; 93:1814-1816. [PMID: 33079384 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.26614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
While vaccination remains the cornerstone of controlling vaccine-preventive diseases (VPD), little is known about the effect of social distancing on incidence of VPDs. We investigated the impact of social distancing practiced during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the incidence of selected VPDs in South Korea. National surveillance data on monthly incidence of hepatitis A, hepatitis B, varicella, mumps, invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), and pertussis were retrieved and compared the VPD incidences in 2020 to the average of the last 4 years (2015-2019) of the corresponding months. In 2020, there were 44% decline for mumps, 44% decline for varicella, 28% decline for pertussis, 22% decline for IPD, 14% decline in incidence of hepatitis A, and no change for hepatitis B incidences, compared to baseline years (2015-2019). The largest decline of total VPDs was in April (65%) and in May (67%), during the intensified social distancing measures. In the setting of sustained vaccination coverage, social distancing may provide additional public health benefit in controlling the VPDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyo Eun Yun
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do, Korea
| | - Bo Young Ryu
- Division of Infectious Disease Response, Gyeongnam Regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Busan, Korea
| | - Young June Choe
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do, Korea
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