Prevalence of markers for hepatitis A, B and C in the German population. Results of the German National Health Interview and Examination Survey 1998

The prevalence of serological parameters indicative of infection with hepatitis A, B and C was determined using sera collected from representative population samples in the former East German (new) federal states and the West German (old) federal states during the German National Health and Examination Survey in 1998. Sera were tested for antibodies to hepatitis A virus (HAV), to hepatitis B core antigen (HBc) and to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis C Virus (HCV), as well as for the presence of HBsAg and HCV-RNA. The mean weighted prevalence of anti-HAV was 46.5% (95% CI: 45.3–47.7) and increased markedly with age. The mean weighted prevalence of past infection with hepatitis B was 7.7% (95% CI: 7.0–8.4) in the old federal states and 4.3% (95% CI: 3.2–5.3) in the new federal states, corresponding to an overall prevalence of 7.0% (95% CI: 6.4–7.6). The mean weighted prevalence of HBsAg carriage was 0.6% (95% CI: 0.4–0.8), while the prevalence of HCV antibodies was 0.4% (95% CI: 0.2–0.5).