The prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV)
infection is
reportedly high in Vietnamese Americans (VAs), but most previous
studies did
not assess full HBV serology, and not the prevalence of HBV and
hepatitis C
virus (HCV) infection simultaneously.
The aim of the study is to
assess the
prevalence of different HBV serologies and HCV infection in VAs.
This study was
based on the data collected by testing for Hepatitis B surface
antigen (HBsAg),
anti-hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb IgG), anti-HBs antibody
(HBsAb), and
anti-HCV antibody (anti-HCV) in a series of community screening in
VAs in
Orange County, California.
In 1,405 VA participants, the mean age
was 51
(17-87) years, 45.1 % were males; 68.2 %, married; 97.2 %, born in
Vietnam.
Most of the participants were non-US born with their primary
language being
non-English and with limited access to health care. Of the 1,405
cases, 124
(8.8 %) were confirmed HBV infection by HBsAg+; 81 (5.8 %), HCV
infection by
anti-HCV+; including four (0.3 %) with HBV/HCV coinfection. Twelve
percent of
the participants with confirmed HBV infection thought they were
previously
tested negative, while 29.7 % of the participants with confirmed
HCV infection
thought they were previously tested negative.
In this cohort, 15.4
% were
HBsAg-/HBsAb-/HBcAb IgG-, i.e. being susceptible to HBV infection.
In HCV
infected participants, 65.4 % were born between 1945 and 1965.
This large
serial survey and screening in the Vietnamese American community
confirmed the
rates of HBV and HCV infection to be as high as 8.8 % and 5.8 %,
respectively.
We have also identified factors related to HBV and HCV infection
in this
high-risk population.
Nguyen K. et al.
Labels: epidemiology, infection rates in US, Vietnamese-Americans