J Korean Med Sci.  2005 Dec;20(6):985-988. 10.3346/jkms.2005.20.6.985.

The Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Korea: Pooled Analysis

• Shin HR
• Hwang SY
• Nam CM

• KMID: 2157749
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2005.20.6.985

Abstract

This study evaluated the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in Korea. Pooled estimates of the anti-HCV positivity were calculated using the data published in 15 reports on the general population and health check-up examinees. The overall pooled estimate of the prevalence of HCV among middle-aged adults (40 yr old and above) was 1.68% (95% confidence interval: 1.51-1.86%) during the year of 1990-2000 among the general population. Most of the published data indicated that the prevalence of anti-HCV increased with age. The anti-HCV positivity was significantly higher in females than in males. Because the risk of HCV exposure in blood recipients has decreased remarkably, the spread of HCV through means other than a transfusion must be prevented.

Keyword

Hepacivirus; Hepatitis C Virus; Prevalence; Korea

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Female
Hepatitis C/*epidemiology/immunology/prevention and control/transmission
Hepatitis C Antibodies/blood
Humans
Korea/epidemiology
Male
Middle Aged
Seroepidemiologic Studies

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