TY - JOUR
T1 - Current epidemiology of hepatitis E virus infection in the United States
T2 - Low seroprevalence in the National Health and Nutrition Evaluation Survey
AU - Ditah, Ivo
AU - Ditah, Fausta
AU - Devaki, Pardha
AU - Ditah, Calistus
AU - Kamath, Patrick S.
AU - Charlton, Michael
PY - 2014/9
Y1 - 2014/9
N2 - Analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Evaluation Survey (NHANES) 1988-1994 dataset found a relatively high seroprevalence (21%) of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in the U.S. general population. Using data obtained within the NHANES 2009-2010 survey, where a high performance assay for HEV was used, we estimated the weighted seroprevalence of HEV infection among U.S. individuals 6 years and older. We also evaluated factors associated with HEV seropositivity. A total of 8,814 individuals were included in the analysis. The median age of study participants was 37 years (interquartile range [IQR] 17-58 years), with 51.2% being female. The weighted national seroprevalence of HEV was 6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 5.1%-6.9%). About 0.5% of those with HEV had evidence of recent exposure (immunoglobulin M-positive). In the univariate analyses, factors associated with HEV seropositivity were increasing age (P-trend<0.001), birth outside of the U.S., Hispanic race, and "meat" consumption (>10 times/month). No significant association was observed with low socioeconomic status, water source, or level of education. In the multivariate analysis, only older age remained predictive of HEV seropositivity. Conclusion: The weighted national seroprevalence of HEV in the U.S. is much less than previously reported. Using data obtained with a high performance assay, the seroprevalence of HEV was estimated at 6.0% in the U.S. Based on these results, the seroprevalence of HEV is only one-third as high as previously reported.
AB - Analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Evaluation Survey (NHANES) 1988-1994 dataset found a relatively high seroprevalence (21%) of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in the U.S. general population. Using data obtained within the NHANES 2009-2010 survey, where a high performance assay for HEV was used, we estimated the weighted seroprevalence of HEV infection among U.S. individuals 6 years and older. We also evaluated factors associated with HEV seropositivity. A total of 8,814 individuals were included in the analysis. The median age of study participants was 37 years (interquartile range [IQR] 17-58 years), with 51.2% being female. The weighted national seroprevalence of HEV was 6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 5.1%-6.9%). About 0.5% of those with HEV had evidence of recent exposure (immunoglobulin M-positive). In the univariate analyses, factors associated with HEV seropositivity were increasing age (P-trend<0.001), birth outside of the U.S., Hispanic race, and "meat" consumption (>10 times/month). No significant association was observed with low socioeconomic status, water source, or level of education. In the multivariate analysis, only older age remained predictive of HEV seropositivity. Conclusion: The weighted national seroprevalence of HEV in the U.S. is much less than previously reported. Using data obtained with a high performance assay, the seroprevalence of HEV was estimated at 6.0% in the U.S. Based on these results, the seroprevalence of HEV is only one-third as high as previously reported.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84906512308&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84906512308&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/hep.27219
DO - 10.1002/hep.27219
M3 - Article
C2 - 24824965
AN - SCOPUS:84906512308
SN - 0270-9139
VL - 60
SP - 815
EP - 822
JO - Hepatology
JF - Hepatology
IS - 3
ER -