Hepatitis B: Epidemiology1

Incidence of Infection:

Rhode Island:

…        Anywhere from 10 to 75 new cases of hepatitis B are reported in Rhode Island every year2ÝÝÝÝÝÝ

United States:ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ

…        140,000-320,000 infections per year

…        70,000-160,000 symptomatic infections per year

 

Prevalence of Infection:

Rhode Island:

…        It is estimated that there are 2000 lifelong carriers of hepatitis B in the state. 2

United States:

…        1-1.25 million Americans are estimated to be chronically infected with Hepatitis B virus. These individuals are potentially infectious to others.

…        The prevalence of infection among adolescents and adults has been shown to be 3 to 4 times greater among black Americans than among white Americans. 3

…        The CDC estimates that one third of chronic HBV infections in the US come from infected infants and young children.

Globally:ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ

…        360 million people are chronic carriers of HBV:

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ 78% in Asia

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ 16% in Africa

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ 3% in South America

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ 3% in Europe, North America and Oceana combined 4

…         >8% prevalence of chronic infection in Africa, the Pacific Islands, parts of South America, and most of Asia 4

 

Effects (Sequelae) of Infection:

United States:ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ

Of symptomatic infections:

…        8,400-19,000 hospitalizations per year

…        140-320 (0.2%) deaths per year

 

Of all infections:

…        8,000-32,000 (6%-10%) chronic infections per year

…        5,000-6,000 deaths per year from chronic liver disease including primary liver cancer

…        About 25% of hepatocellular carcinomas are related to HBV or HCV infection5

…        25% of infected individuals develop clinical jaundice

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ

Globally:ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ

…        Chronic HBV infection is responsible for 60 million cases of liver cirrhosis world-wide, more than the number of cases caused by alcohol6

…         1 million people die each year from HBV-related chronic liver disease7

…         Infants infected by perinatal transmission have a 90% risk of developing chronic infection, and an estimated 25% will die of chronic liver disease as ÝÝÝ adults.3Ý

 

Trends:

Rhode Island:

Graph of incidence of Hepatitis B in R.I.:

…        http://www.health.state.ri.us/disprev/communicable/hepb_cas.htm

 

United States:

 

Ý

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/resource/adolscnt/index.htm

…        Incidence of acute HBV increased by 37% from 1979 to 1989.3Ý It then decreased through 1993 because of wider use of vaccine among adults, modification of high-risk practices, and possibly a decrease in the number ofÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ susceptible persons.Ý Since 1993, increases have been observed among three major risk groups: sexually active heterosexuals, homosexual men, and injection drug users.

 

Costs:

United States:ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ

…        Estimated $700 million (1991 dollars)/yr in medical and work loss.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/resource/adolscnt/index.htm