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- Title
Regional Distribution of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in the Republic of Korea, 2007-2011.
- Authors
Geun-Yong Kwon; Hyungmin Lee; Jin Gwack; Sang-Won Lee; Moran Ki; Seung-Ki Youn
- Abstract
Background/Aims: In Korea, hepatitis C is included as an infectious disease in a sentinel surveillance system. Recently, a large variation in hepatitis C incidence between different regions in Korea has been noticed. The current study verified the nationwide distribution of hepatitis C infection for effective prevention and management. Methods: We counted the number of hepatitis C patients who visited a hospital per county using the National Health Insurance database from 2007 to 2011. The age-adjusted prevalence ratio was used, and the age adjustment method was used as an indirect standardization method. Disease mapping and spatial analysis were conducted using a geographic information system. Results: The annual prevalence of diagnosed hepatitis C was approximately 0.12% to 0.13% in Korea. The age- adjusted prevalence ratios in Busan, Jeonnam, and Gyeongnam were high (1.75, 1.4, and 1.3, respectively). The three regions in the southern coastal area of the Korean Peninsula were identified as a high-prevalence cluster (Moran's index, 0.3636). Conclusions: The present study showed that hepatitis C infection has very large regional variation, and there are several high-risk areas. Preventive measures focusing on these areas should be applied to block the transmission of hepatitis C and reduce the disease burden.
- Subjects
KOREA; HEPATITIS C virus; HEPATITIS C; GEOGRAPHIC information systems; SPATIAL analysis (Statistics)
- Publication
Gut & Liver, 2014, Vol 8, Issue 4, p428
- ISSN
1976-2283
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.5009/gnl.2014.8.4.428