VIRAL HEPATITIS B IN THE ARKHANGELSK REGION: LONG-TERM TRENDS AND CURRENT EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SITUATION

Introduction. Infection caused by virus hepatitis B is a serious medical and social problem worldwide because of high morbidity, mortality and high costs of treatment. After introduction of mass vaccination for HBV in Russia the main issue related to HBV is high incidence and prevalence of chronic forms. Methods. Forms No. 2 and No. 6 of the state statistical reporting in 1986-2016 were analyzed. A population-based cross-sectional study of Arkhangelsk population aged 18-39 years was carried out to assess the prevalence of HBV markers (HBs Ag, anti-HBc) and antibodies to HBs Ag as well as factors associated with HBV infection. Results. During the study period, the pattern of incidence of acute- and chronic HBV infection in the Arkhangelsk region is similar to the pattern of incidence in Russia, but the magnitude of regional indicators of the incidence of acute HBV was lower while the incidence of chronic HBV infection was higher than nationwide. According to laboratory data, among 1243 participants the prevalence of serological markers (HBs Ag and/or anti-HBc) in the sample was 11.8% among men and 10.2% among women. Altogether, 1.1% of the men and 1.3% of the women had positive results for HBs Ag. In total, 46.4% of the men and 38.9% of the women had all three tests negative. 46.9% of the participants were positive only for antibodies to HBs Ag. Discussion. In the Arkhangelsk region the vaccination has had the greatest influence on intensity of epidemic process of acute HBV infection. The incidence of chronic HBV infection decreased in the region in 3 times after initiation of large-scale vaccination. Conclusion. The percentage of vaccinated persons in Arkhangelsk region is high. Still there are sources of infection in the population.

hepatitis B, incidence, prevalence, population-based study