Epidemiology of hepatitis b in adults in the west

摘要

Most western countries have a low endemicity pattern of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. However, the penetrance of this disease is quite variable, from very low in some areas to intermediate or very high in others. In recent years, improvement of social conditions, observation of universal precaution measures, and implementation of different immunization strategies has led to significant changes in the epidemiology of this infection. There is an ongoing substantial decline in the incidence of acute hepatitis B, particularly in children and young adults but less significant in older persons, who are not yet sufficiently covered by current preventive strategies. Unsafe sex and use of intravenous drugs remain as the most important risk factors for HBV infection. The high HBV carrier rate observed among immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa, Southwest Asia, and Western Europe does not appear to represent a high risk of spreading of HBV into the autochthonous population.