Gungabissoon U, Andrews N, Crowcroft N S
Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections, London, UK.
Epidemiol Infect. 2007 May;135(4):549-54. doi: 10.1017/S0950268806007242. Epub 2006 Sep 26.
The aim of the study was to determine whether rates of hepatitis A infection are higher in people of South Asian origin compared to the general population, to look for evidence of spread to the general population, and to identify ways to improve preventive strategies. Routine laboratory reports of hepatitis A infection in England and Wales in 1992-2004 were analysed. Study participants were patients with confirmed hepatitis A infection reported to the Health Protection Agency by the diagnosing laboratory. Nam Pehchan software was used to identify patients of South Asian ethnicity. Main outcome measures were comparison of incidence of hepatitis A in South Asian and non-South Asian groups, by age and region. Rates of infection were significantly higher in the South Asian group compared to the non-South Asian group (rate ratio 2.68, 95% confidence interval 2.07-3.47). Patients in the South Asian group had a younger age distribution. Travel was an important risk factor with 85% of those of South Asian origin acquiring their infection abroad, most frequently in the Indian subcontinent, compared to less than one third of those in other groups. Health-care professionals should ensure that all travellers to high-risk countries are protected by hepatitis A vaccination. Targeted information campaigns may be indicated in regions of the United Kingdom for people in South Asian minority ethnic groups.
该研究的目的是确定南亚裔人群中甲型肝炎感染率是否高于普通人群，寻找向普通人群传播的证据，并确定改进预防策略的方法。对1992 - 2004年英格兰和威尔士甲型肝炎感染的常规实验室报告进行了分析。研究参与者是诊断实验室向健康保护局报告的确诊甲型肝炎感染患者。使用Nam Pehchan软件识别南亚族裔患者。主要观察指标是按年龄和地区比较南亚和非南亚组甲型肝炎的发病率。与非南亚组相比，南亚组的感染率显著更高（率比2.68，95%置信区间2.07 - 3.47）。南亚组患者的年龄分布更年轻。旅行是一个重要的危险因素，85%的南亚裔感染者是在国外感染的，最常见于印度次大陆，而其他组中这一比例不到三分之一。医疗保健专业人员应确保所有前往高风险国家的旅行者接种甲型肝炎疫苗。对于英国南亚少数族裔群体所在地区，可能需要开展有针对性的宣传活动。
