González A, Bruguera M, Calbo Torrecillas F, Monge V, Dal-Ré R, Costa J
Departamentos de Investigación Clinica, Smithkline Beecham S.A. Madrid.
Med Clin (Barc). 1994 Oct 15;103(12):445-8.
The aim of the present was to study the rate of exposure to the hepatitis A virus (HAV) in the young adult Spanish population.
A transversal observational study was performed to evaluate the prevalence of anti-HAV antibodies (IgG) in a representative sample of the Spanish population between the ages of 20-40 years. Information on demographic variables (age, place of residence, education, number of children and number of brothers or sisters) and history of hepatitis was collected. A blood sample was also obtained from the umbilical cord or heel of newborns. The level of total anti-HAV antibodies was measured by the ELISA method.
A total of 1,204 pregnant women the ages of 20-40 years with deliveries in 71 hospitals in 14 autonomic regions were included in the study. A total of 606 positive anti-HAV were reported representing a prevalence of 50.4% (CI 95% = 48-52%). The prevalence was seen to significantly increase in relation to age, from 39% (group from 20-25 years) up to 60% (groups from 31-35 and 36-40 years of age). The factors of "education" and "number of children" were not associated to greater risk of previous contact with HAV. A non significant increase in prevalence was observed in relation with "number of brothers or sisters of the parturient". 86.3% (CI 95% = 83-93) of the positive anti-HAV subjects reported not having had clinical history of hepatitis.
Half of the young Spanish adult population does not show antibodies against the hepatitis A virus, with an increase in morbidity by clinical hepatitis A being foreseen in this age group.
本研究旨在调查西班牙年轻成年人群中甲型肝炎病毒（HAV）的暴露率。
开展一项横断面观察性研究，以评估西班牙20至40岁人群代表性样本中抗-HAV抗体（IgG）的流行情况。收集了人口统计学变量（年龄、居住地点、教育程度、子女数量及兄弟姐妹数量）和肝炎病史的信息。还从新生儿的脐带或足跟采集了血样。采用ELISA法检测总抗-HAV抗体水平。
本研究纳入了14个自治区71家医院中1204名年龄在20至40岁之间的孕妇。共报告606例抗-HAV阳性，流行率为50.4%（95%置信区间=48-52%）。流行率随年龄显著增加，从39%（20至25岁组）增至60%（31至35岁组和36至40岁组）。“教育程度”和“子女数量”因素与既往接触HAV的较高风险无关。观察到“产妇的兄弟姐妹数量”与流行率的增加无显著关联。86.3%（95%置信区间=83-93）的抗-HAV阳性受试者报告无肝炎临床病史。
一半的西班牙年轻成年人群未显示出抗甲型肝炎病毒抗体，预计该年龄组甲型肝炎临床发病率会增加。
