Ethnic-specific prevalence of hepatitis B/C virus infection in Pin-Jen, Taiwan.

OBJECTIVES The study aimed to estimate prevalence rate of hepatitis B/C virus infection by three ethnic groups including Hakka, Minnan, and Mainlander in Taiwan where there was a high incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS We enrolled a total of 5007 people aged 30 years or older who participated in Li-Shin Out-Reaching Neighboring Screening (LIONS) project in 2004-2005 in Pin-Jen township of Taoyuan county. The ethnic group was classified in the current study by using the criteria on the basis of the ethnicity of mother of participants. We collected the character of participants, hepatitis B/C virus infection, and life-style factors for the comparison across three ethnic groups. RESULTS The highest positive rate of hepatitis B virus infection was seen in Minnan descendants (15.1%), followed by Hakka descendants (11.4%), and Mainlander descendants (6.6%). The difference by three groups was statistically significant (P<.001). Positive hepatitis B virus infection declined with age whereas positive hepatitis C virus infection increased with age regardless of ethnic group. By using ecological analysis, the higher proportion of Minnan was positively correlated to the elevated incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (correlation coefficient=.46, P=.03). CONCLUSIONS Our population-based study shows prevalence rate of hepatitis B and C virus infection varies with ethnic group, with higher rate in Minnan. This finding was consistent with the ecological result, the higher the composition of Minnan the higher the incidence of HCC.