Skip to main content
Log in

Sero-epidemiologic study of hepatitis C virus infection in Fukuoka, Japan

  • Published:
Journal of Gastroenterology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract:

We conducted an epidemiological study of 509 residents of H town, Fukuoka, Japan, to investigate the high mortality rate from liver disease. Antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV) (anti-HCV) were detected in 120 residents (23.6%); HCV RNA in 91 (17.9%), and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in 13 (2.6%). Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that presence of anti-HCV, male gender, and history of liver disease were associated with the presence of liver dysfunction, and that age of more than 40 years and a particular district were associated with the presence of anti-HCV. HCV RNA was more frequently detected in anti-HCV-positive men than women (41, or 85.4% versus 50, or 69.4%) (P < 0.05). The incidence of liver dysfunction was significantly higher in HCV RNA-positive men than women (32, or 66.7% versus 22, or 30.6%) (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that: (1) HCV was correlated with the high mortality rate from liver diseases, (2) there were district-related differences in the incidence of HCV, and (3) the lower frequency of elimination of HCV from men may explain why they showed a high mortality from liver disease.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

(Received Mar. 4, 1997; accepted Aug. 22, 1997)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sata, M., Nakano, H., Suzuki, H. et al. Sero-epidemiologic study of hepatitis C virus infection in Fukuoka, Japan. J Gastroenterol 33, 218–222 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s005350050073

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s005350050073

Navigation