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Hepatitis B surface antigen prevalence in blood samples tested at Cabell Huntington Hospital
Insights
The Hepatitis B carrier rate in Cabell County, West Virginia, was found to be 0.8% between 1990-1993. This Hepatitis B surface antigen positive carrier state is below the national average, impacting healthcare planning.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Hepatitis B poses a significant risk for chronic liver disease, morbidity, and mortality.
- The HBsAg+ carrier state is a critical consideration for healthcare planning, especially with shrinking healthcare support.
- Understanding regional carrier rates is essential for targeted public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carrier rate in serum samples from Cabell County.
- To assess the prevalence of the HBsAg+ carrier state in West Virginia.
- To inform future healthcare planning and resource allocation.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of serum samples from Cabell-Huntington Hospital Laboratory.
- Study period: January 1990 to January 1993.
- Testing for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity.
Main Results:
- A total of 6,209 serum samples were analyzed.
- 50 samples (0.8%) tested positive for HBsAg.
- The positive cases represented 10 unique patients, with 80% being female and 50% of child-bearing age.
Conclusions:
- The HBsAg+ carrier rate in Cabell County is lower than the national average.
- The findings suggest a need for continued monitoring of Hepatitis B prevalence.
- Data can guide localized public health strategies for Hepatitis B prevention and management.
Abstract:
Hepatitis B is a major cause of chronic liver disease which leads to morbidity and mortality among patients. In the current era, when federal and governmental support for health care is shrinking, the HBsAg+ carrier state in West Virginia becomes an important factor for future health care planning. In this study, we retrospectively investigated the HBsAg+ carrier rate in serum samples studied in the Cabell-Huntington Hospital Laboratory from January 1990-January 1993. Only 50/6,209 (0.8%) serum samples were positive for HBsAg. These positive samples represented 10 different patients, 8/10 were females and only 4/8 were of child-bearing age. We conclude that HBsAg+ carrier state in patients from Cabell County is below the national average.