Is the aging of acute hepatitis B occurring in Brazil

Authors

  • Gustavo Henrique Vieira Carvalho
  • João Pedro Parreira Faria
  • Mauricio Aparecido Alexandre Silva
  • Francisco José Dutra Souto

Keywords:

acute hepatitis B;, hepatitis B virus, Brazil, aging, incidence

Abstract

Introduction: The prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been declining nationwide throughout Brazil since the introduction of universal child vaccination. The vaccine is currently available for all ages. However, most of the adult population has not been vaccinated and may still be susceptible to it. Most of the cases reported to the Brazilian Notifiable Diseases Information System (Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação - SINAN) are chronic, a consequence of early exposure in life. However, acute cases are the result of current transmission and may reveal the current dynamics of HBV circulation. Objective: To evaluate whether there is a change in the age distribution of acute hepatitis B in Brazil. Methods: To analyze the historical series of reported cases and incidence rates of acute hepatitis B by age group between 2007 and 2018, based on data reported to SINAN. Temporal trend was tested with non-parametric Cusick test. Results: The incidence rate fell from 1.02 (/ 100,000 inhabitants) in 2007 to 0.67 in 2018 (p=0.01). The drop was significant at all ages, except under 15 and over 60. The highest incidences (@1.0 / 100,000 inhab.) occurred between 20 and 59 years old. Conclusion: There is a progressive “aging” of acute hepatitis B cases in the country, probably due to the vaccine protection of younger people. A considerable portion of the older population is susceptible to HBV and may be exposed, especially by sexual route. Control measures such as vaccination and guidance for safe sex are needed.

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Author Biographies

Gustavo Henrique Vieira Carvalho

Faculty of Biomedical Sciences of Cacoal – Cacoal (RO), Brazil.

João Pedro Parreira Faria

Faculty of Biomedical Sciences of Cacoal – Cacoal (RO), Brazil.

Mauricio Aparecido Alexandre Silva

Faculty of Biomedical Sciences of Cacoal – Cacoal (RO), Brazil.

Francisco José Dutra Souto

Faculty of Biomedical Sciences of Cacoal – Cacoal (RO), Brazil. Faculty of Medicine, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso – Cuiabá (MT), Brazil.

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Published

2020-12-01

How to Cite

1.
Carvalho GHV, Faria JPP, Silva MAA, Souto FJD. Is the aging of acute hepatitis B occurring in Brazil. DST [Internet]. 2020 Dec. 1 [cited 2024 Mar. 29];32. Available from: https://bjstd.org/revista/article/view/885

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Original Article