J Korean Med Sci.  2016 Jan;31(1):67-72. 10.3346/jkms.2016.31.1.67.

Hepatitis A in Korea from 2011 to 2013: Current Epidemiologic Status and Regional Distribution

• Moon S
• Han JH
• Bae GR
• Cho E
• Kim B

• KMID: 2359994
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2016.31.1.67

Abstract

The hepatitis A virus (HAV) has been the leading cause of viral hepatitis in Korea since the 2000s. We aimed to describe the current status and regional differences in hepatitis A incidence. We studied the total number of hepatitis A cases reported to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through the National Infectious Diseases Surveillance System between 2011 and 2013. Additionally, National Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service data and national population data from Statistics Korea were used. In total, 7,585 hepatitis A cases were reported; 5,521 (10.9 cases per 100,000 populations), 1,197 (2.3 cases per 100,000 populations), and 867 (1.7 cases per 100,000 populations) in 2011, 2012, and 2013, respectively. Fifty-eight patients were infected outside of the country and 7,527 patients represented autochthonous HAV infection cases. Autochthonous HAV infection occurred more frequently among men than women (4,619 cases, 6.1 cases per 100,000 population vs. 2,908 cases, 3.9 cases per 100,000 population). The incidence rate was higher in the 20-29 yr-old group (2,309 cases, 11.6 cases per 100,000 populations) and 30-39 yr-old group (3,306 cases, 13.6 cases per 100,000 populations). The majority of cases were reported from March to June (53.6%, 4,038/7,527). Geographic analyses revealed a consistently high relative risk (RR) of HAV infection in mid-western regions (2011, RR, 1.25, P=0.019; 2012, RR, 2.53, P<0.001; 2013, RR, 1.86, P<0.001). In summary, we report that hepatitis A incidence has been decreasing gradually from 2011 to 2013 and that some regions show the highest prevalence rates of HAV infection in Korea.

Keyword

Hepatitis A; Incidence; Epidemiology; Korea

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Child
Databases, Factual
Female
Hepatitis A/*epidemiology/pathology
Humans
Incidence
Male
Middle Aged
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
Risk
Seasons
Sex Factors
Young Adult

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Number of patients and incidence rates of hepatitis A viral infection by year in Korea during 2011-2013. KCDC, Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; NIDS, National Infectious Disease Surveillance; HIRA, National Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service.

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  Fig. 2 Seasonal patterns of autochthonous hepatitis A viral infection cases in Korea during 2011-2013.

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  Fig. 3 Geographic distribution of hepatitis A viral infection in Korea during 2011-2013 (annual incidence rates per 100,000 residents).

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  Fig. 4 Mapping of clusters with higher incidence rates of hepatitis A viral infection in Korea during 2011-2013.

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