Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus Seroprevalence in the Elderly Living in Nursing Homes

• Published in: Journal of investigative medicine Vol. 57; no. 6; pp. 717 - 719
• Main Authors: Maral, Isil, Dogruman-Al, Funda, Bakar, Coskun, Ilhan, Mustafa Necmi, Yalinay-Cirak, Meltem, Bumin, Mehmet Ali
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01-08-2009; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Hepatitis B - epidemiology; Hepatitis C - epidemiology; Humans; Male; Nursing Homes; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Turkey; Turkey; hepatitis C virus; hepatitis B virus; elderly; vaccination
• ISSN: 1081-5589; 1708-8267
• DOI: 10.2310/JIM.0b013e3181ab8cab

BackgroundCommunal living situations such as nursing homes create a risk for the spread of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus (HCV). The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus and HCV in the elderly living in 2 nursing homes in Ankara, Turkey.MethodsA total of 227 persons (mean age, 76.11 ± 8.55 years) participated in this cross-sectional study. All individuals were investigated seroprevalence for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-HBs immunoglobulin G (IgG), anti-hepatitis B core IgG, and anti-HCV IgG.ResultsPositive seroprevalence was 11.9% for HBsAg, 48.0% for anti-HBs IgG, 25.1% for anti-hepatitis B core IgG, and 2.5% for anti-HCV IgG. Hepatitis B surface antigen positivity was 12.4% in males and 11.5% in females (P > 0.05); and the seroprevalence was 10.4% for those living in nursing homes for 1 year or less and 13.0% for those living in nursing homes for more than 1 year (P > 0.05).ConclusionsThe fact that nearly half of those living in nursing homes had not encountered hepatitis B infection or had not received hepatitis B vaccination indicates the need for administering hepatitis B vaccines in this group.