Pilot study for hepatitis virus screening among employees as an effective approach to encourage employees who screened positive to receive medical care in Japan. Issue 3 (5th November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sugiyama, Aya; Fujii, Toshiko; Nagashima, Shintaro; Ohisa, Masayuki; Yamamoto, Chikako; Chuon, Channarena; Akita, Tomoyuki; Matsuo, Junko; Katayama, Keiko; Takahashi, Kazuaki; Tanaka, Junko
• Is Part Of: Hepatology research. Volume 48:Issue 3(2018)
• Page Start: E291
• Page End: E302
• Publication Date: 2017-11-05
• Subjects: employees -- hepatitis B virus -- hepatitis C virus -- prevalence -- screening; Liver -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Liver Diseases -- Periodicals; Foie -- Maladies -- Périodiques; 616.362
• DOI: 10.1111/hepr.12986
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1386-6346

Abstract

Abstract : Aim: Countermeasures against hepatitis B and C virus (HBV, HCV) infection at work sites in Japan have not yet been implemented. This study aimed to determine the status of viral hepatitis infection among employees in Japan. Methods: We undertook a workplace‐based cross‐sectional study from 2011 to 2016 in Hiroshima, Japan. Hepatitis B virus and HCV markers were identified during a routine checkup of employees in 15 enterprises. The screening results were sent to employees directly and not to employers. A thorough examination of the participants who screened positive was encouraged by forwarding to them a referral letter by our research group to specialized medical institutions. Results: Of the 3015 employees, 2420 (80.3%) underwent hepatitis virus screening. Of these, 13.8% had been screened for hepatitis virus before this survey. The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen was 0.95% ( n = 23; 95% confidence interval, 0.6–1.3%). The prevalence of hepatitis B core antibody was as high as 31.5% at age 60–69 years, and 41.5% at age 70 years and over. The HCV carrier rate was 0.45% ( n = 11; 0.2–0.7%) and 54.5% of them had genotype 2. Thirty‐four carriers were detected, and 44.1% of them were detected for the first time; 53.3% of the newly detected carriers visited medical institutions with the referral, and underwent a periodic follow‐up or treatment. Conclusion: Promoting hepatitis virus screening for employees may help detect carriers who are unaware of their infection and require treatment. Submitting the results to employees with a referral letter to medical institutions at the time of positive diagnosis may be effective.