Loading...
The prevalence of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is higher in first- and second-generation Asian immigrants (5%–15%) than in the general U.S. population (0.2%). In this study, investigators report the prevalence among Korean Americans specifically, based on the results of a large community-based screening program in the eastern U.S.
Between late 1988 and mid-1990, 6130 Korean Americans provided serum samples for serologic testing; none had been vaccinated against HBV, and all were asymptomatic. Almost all of the adults (98%) were born in Korea, as were 57% of the children and adolescents (defined here as age ≤20).
The prevalence of HB surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity was 6.1% overall and was significantly higher among males than …