Clin Microbiol Infect. 2015 Jul 7. pii: S1198-743X(15)00690-4. doi: 10.1016/j.cmi.2015.06.028. [Epub ahead of print]

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infections and risk factors in Turkey: A fieldwork TURHEP study.

Tozun N1, Ozdogan O2, Cakaloglu Y3, Idilman R4, Karasu Z5, Akarca U5, Kaymakoglu S6, Ergonul O7.

Abstract

The present study was designed to determine seroprevalence of Hepatitis B and C virus infections and risk factors in Turkish general population. The subjects were enrolled from urban and rural areas of the predetermined 23 EUROSTAT NUTS 2 region. A two -stage stratified sampling method was used to select participants from these regions. Participants' (n=5460; 50.9% females; mean(SD) age: 40.8(14.7) years) socio-demographics, clinical characteristics and risk factors were recorded at home visits. The seropositivity rates for HBsAg, anti-HCV, anti-HBs and anti-HBc total were found as 4.0%, 1.0%, 31.9%, and 30.6%, respectively. Among HBsAg-positive cases, 94.5% were anti-HBe-positive, 70.2% HBV-DNA-positive, and 2.8 % anti-HDV total positive; 99.1% of HBV subjects were of genotype D. Close contact with hepatitis patient (OR, 3.24; 95% CI, 2.25 to 4.66; p<0.001), living in South-eastern region (OR, 2.74; 95% CI, 1.7 to 4.45; p<0.001), male gender (OR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.28 to 2.46; p<0.001), being married (OR, 1.62; 95% CI,1.02 to2.57; p=0.038, educational level less than high school (OR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.04 to 2.26; p=0.03), orodental interventions (OR, 1.54; 95%CI, 1.01 to 2.35; p=0.047) and use of non-disposable syringe history (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.96; p=0.045) were significant determinants of HBsAg positivity. Age?50 years (OR, 2; 95% CI, 1.09 to 4.3; p=0.026) was the only significant predictor of anti-HCV positivity. In conclusion, our findings revealed an HBsAg positivity in 4% and anti-HCV positivity in 1% of adult population and at least 1/3 of the population has been exposed to HBV infection in Turkey.