[Mortality due to viral hepatitis B in Abancay]

In a retrospective study about the causes of death in Abancay, according to certificates, between 1956 and 1986, 6942 deaths were found, from that total 225 (3.2%) were due to acute or fulminating hepatitis, 84 (1.2%) due to cirrhosis, 57 (0.82%) due to chronic hepatopathy. Deaths due to these three last causes are frequent during these years; however, the number of deaths due to acute hepatitis increased in 1958, 1968 and 1976 over the amount expected (3-6 times). While 74.4% of died patients due to acute hepatitis have less than 30 years of age, 75.4% died due to cirrhosis, hepatocarcinoma or chronic hepatopathy have more than 30 years of age. It should be noted that 24.4% of deaths due to these chronic diseases have less than 30 years of age. According to sex, males represent 64.15% of deaths and females 35.85% with a higher tendency associated to sex. In conclusion, 6% of all deaths in Abancay are associated to hepatitis B, probably B. In the same way, we estimate that acute or fulminating hepatitis delta, both infections recognized as endemic in Abancay population.