Decade-Long Analysis of Hepatitis Trends Among International Travelers at Shanghai Port (2013-2023)

BACKGROUND As a persistent global public health challenge, hepatitis transmission is closely associated with cross-border population mobility. This decade-long retrospective analysis (2013-2023) evaluated hepatitis epidemiology among international travelers processed through Shanghai Port. MATERIAL AND METHODS Medical surveillance data from 741 745 international travelers at Shanghai International Travel Health Care Center (SITHC) were analyzed, covering hepatitis A-E virus detection through standardized screening protocols. Statistical assessments included chi-square tests and Cochran-Armitage trend analysis to identify epidemiological patterns. RESULTS The overall hepatitis detection rate was 0.57% (peaking at 1.13% in 2016), with a significantly higher prevalence among inbound (0.94%) versus outbound travelers (0.19%, P<0.05). Hepatitis B accounted for 93.43% of outbound and 86.88% of inbound cases. Male predominance was observed (outbound: 68.03%; inbound: 61.37%), while laborers (67.42%) and international students (38.19%) emerged as high-risk groups. Age-specific variations revealed peak infection among outbound travelers aged 41-50 years (31.63%) versus inbound travelers aged 21-30 year (41.84%). Surveillance data demonstrated significant temporal fluctuations (P<0.01), with detection rates rising through 2016 and a sustained decline until 2023. Multivariate analysis confirmed distinct patterns across demographic parameters (gender, age, occupation, origin country/region, and hepatitis type) for inbound populations (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS These findings reveal dynamic hepatitis epidemiology at major international transit points, emphasizing occupation-specific risks and temporal transmission patterns. Sustained monitoring of high-risk groups and targeted prevention strategies remain crucial for mitigating cross-border hepatitis transmission through global health gateways.