Key result
The standardized global prevalence of hepatitis A antibodies in the adult population of Catalonia decreased significantly from 77.8% in 1996 to 68.2% in 2002.
Cross-Sectional (n=1,292)
Absolute Event Rate: 68.2% vs 77.8%
p-value: p=<0.0001
Hepatitis A seroprevalence in adults in Catalonia decreased significantly between 1996 and 2002, particularly in younger age groups, suggesting indirect protection from the adolescent vaccination program.
Suggests rising adult HAV susceptibility; supports indirect adolescent vaccine effects but leaves open adult policy needs.
BACKGROUND: One of the main uses of seroprevalence studies it to evaluate vaccination programmes. In 1998, a programme of universal vaccination of preadolescents in schools with the hepatitis A vaccine was begun in Catalonia. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis A virus infection (HAV) in a sample of the adult population of Catalonia in 2002 and to evaluate the changes with respect to a survey carried out in 1996. METHODS: The prevalence of HAV antibodies was determined by a third generation competitive immunometric assay in a representative sample of 1292 people aged >15 years. The association between the prevalence and different sociodemographic variables was determined by multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The standardized global prevalence of HAV antibodies in 2002 was 68.2%, increased with age (p < 0.0001) and was associated with being born outside Catalonia (OR: 1.75; 95% CI 1.11-2.76) and lower social class (OR: 1.14; 95% CI 1.05-1.25). Compared with the last survey carried out in 1996 the standardized global prevalence was lower (68.2% vs 77.8%; p < 0.0001) as was the prevalence in people under 45 years. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of the hepatitis A virus is decreasing in the adult population of Catalonia, especially in the younger age groups. The programme of vaccination of adolescents begun in 1998 to control the disease can provide indirect protection to the unvaccinated population.
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Domínguez et al. (2007) conducted a cross-sectional in Hepatitis A virus infection (n=1,292). Time period (2002) vs. Time period (1996) was evaluated on Standardized global prevalence of HAV antibodies (p=<0.0001). The standardized global prevalence of hepatitis A antibodies in the adult population of Catalonia decreased significantly from 77.8% in 1996 to 68.2% in 2002.
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