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. 2014 Jul;8(4):428-32.
doi: 10.5009/gnl.2014.8.4.428. Epub 2014 Apr 23.

Regional distribution of hepatitis C virus infection in the Republic of Korea, 2007-2011

Geun-Yong Kwon  1 , Hyungmin Lee  1 , Jin Gwack  1 , Sang-Won Lee  2 , Moran Ki  3 , Seung-Ki Youn  1
Affiliations

Regional distribution of hepatitis C virus infection in the Republic of Korea, 2007-2011

Geun-Yong Kwon et al. Gut Liver. 2014 Jul.

Abstract

Background/aims: In Korea, hepatitis C is included as an infectious disease in a sentinel surveillance system. Recently, a large variation in hepatitis C incidence between different regions in Korea has been noticed. The current study verified the nationwide distribution of hepatitis C infection for effective prevention and management.

Methods: We counted the number of hepatitis C patients who visited a hospital per county using the National Health Insurance database from 2007 to 2011. The age-adjusted prevalence ratio was used, and the age adjustment method was used as an indirect standardization method. Disease mapping and spatial analysis were conducted using a geographic information system.

Results: The annual prevalence of diagnosed hepatitis C was approximately 0.12% to 0.13% in Korea. The age-adjusted prevalence ratios in Busan, Jeonnam, and Gyeongnam were high (1.75, 1.4, and 1.3, respectively). The three regions in the southern coastal area of the Korean Peninsula were identified as a high-prevalence cluster (Moran's index, 0.3636).

Conclusions: The present study showed that hepatitis C infection has very large regional variation, and there are several high-risk areas. Preventive measures focusing on these areas should be applied to block the transmission of hepatitis C and reduce the disease burden.

Keywords: Hepatitis C; Infection; Prevalence; Republic of Korea; Spatial analysis.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Average age-adjusted prevalence ratio of hepatitis C by province in Korea, 2007–2011. SPR, standardized prevalence ratio.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Average age-adjusted prevalence ratio of hepatitis C by county in the Busan (A), Jeonnam (B), and Gyeongnam Provinces (C), 2007–2011. SPR, standardized prevalence ratio.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Grid map for each regional average age-adjusted prevalence ratio (APR) for diagnosed hepatitis C, 2007–2011. The colors were divided into five classes, and a high prevalence is indicated by dark brown. The color of each class, range of regional APR, and number of counties belonging to the class are shown.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Cluster map of each regional average age-adjusted prevalence ratio for diagnosed hepatitis C, 2007–2011. The spatially nonsignificant regions were marked in light grey. The hot spots were marked in red, which means the prevalence in the region and in neighboring regions was high. The cold spots were marked with blue, which means the prevalence in the region and in neighboring regions was low. Sky blue indicates that the prevalence in the region was low but that in neighboring regions was high. Pink indicates that the prevalence of the region was high but that in neighboring regions was low.
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