Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Estimating the Prevalence of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection—New York City, 2008

  • Published:
Journal of Urban Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a preventable cause of liver failure, cirrhosis, and liver cancer; estimated chronic HBV infection prevalence is 0.3–0.5% in the USA. Prevalence in New York City (NYC) is likely higher because foreign-born persons, who represent 36% of NYC’s population versus 11% nationwide, bear a disproportionate burden of chronic HBV infection. However, because no comprehensive, population-based survey of chronic HBV infection has been conducted in NYC, a reliable prevalence estimate is unavailable. We used two approaches to estimate chronic HBV infection prevalence in NYC: (1) a census-based estimate, combining local and national prevalence data for specific populations, and (2) a surveillance-based estimate, using data from NYC’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Hepatitis B Surveillance Registry and adjusting for out-migration and deaths. Results from both the census-based estimate and the surveillance-based estimate were similar, with an estimated prevalence of chronic HBV in NYC of 1.2%. This estimate is two to four times the estimated prevalence for the USA as a whole. According to the census-based estimate, >93% of all cases in NYC are among persons who are foreign-born, and approximately half of those are among persons born in China. These findings underscore the importance of local data for tailoring programmatic efforts to specific foreign-born populations in NYC. In particular, Chinese-language programs and health education materials are critical. Reliable estimates are important for policymakers in local jurisdictions to better understand their own population’s needs and can help target primary care services, prevention materials, and education.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

FIGURE 1.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommendations for identification and public health management of persons with chronic hepatitis B virus infection. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2008; 57(No. RR-8): 1–20.

    Google Scholar 

  2. US Census Bureau. State & county QuickFacts: New York City, New York. Washington, DC: US Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov. Accessed December 10, 2010.

  3. McQuillan GM, Coleman PJ, Kruszon-Moran D, et al. Prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection in the United States: the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, 1976 through 1994. Am J Public Health. 1999; 89: 14–18.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Wright TL. Introduction to chronic hepatitis B infection. Am J Gastroenterol. 2006; 101(Suppl 1): S1–S6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Carey WD. The prevalence and natural history of hepatitis B in the 21st century. Clevel Clin J Med. 2009; 76(Suppl 3): S2–S5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Hepatitis A, B and C Surveillance Report, New York City, 2008 and 2009. New York, NY: New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/cd/cd-hepabc-surveillance-report-08-09.pdf. Accessed June 29, 2011.

  7. US Internal Revenue Service (IRS). County to county migration data: 2004–2008. Washington, DC: IRS. http://www.irs.gov/taxstats/article/0,,id=212695,00.html. Accessed January 6, 2011.

  8. US Census Bureau. 2008 American Community Survey 1-year estimates, table B01003. total population—universe: total population, New York City, 2008. Washington, DC: US Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DatasetMainPageServlet?_program=ACS&_lang=en&_ts=?. Accessed January 6, 2011.

  9. US Census Bureau. Census 2000 summary file 1: New York City, 2001. Washington, DC: US Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DatasetMainPageServlet?_program=DEC&_submenuId=datasets_2&_lang=en&_ts=. Accessed January 6, 2011.

  10. US Census Bureau. Census 2000 summary file 3: New York City, 2001. Washington, DC: US Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DatasetMainPageServlet?_program=DEC&_submenuId=datasets_2&_lang=en&_ts=. Accessed January 6, 2011.

  11. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Screening for chronic hepatitis B among Asian/Pacific Islander populations—New York City, 2005. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2006; 55: 505–509.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Lin SY, Chang ET, So SK. Why we should routinely screen Asian American adults for hepatitis B: a cross-sectional study of Asians in California. Hepatology. 2007; 46: 1034–1040.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Begier EM, Bennani Y, Forgione L, et al. Undiagnosed HIV infection among New York City jail entrants, 2006: results of a blinded serosurvey. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2010; 54: 93–101.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Gross E. US population migration data: strengths and limitations; Statistics of Income Division, Internal Revenue Service; 2005. www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/99gross_update.doc. Accessed January 6, 2011.

  15. Gunn RA, Murray PJ, Ackers ML, Hardison WG, Margolis HS. Screening for chronic hepatitis B and C virus infections in an urban sexually transmitted disease clinic: rationale for integrating services. Sex Transm Dis. 2001; 28: 166–170.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Ioannou GN. Hepatitis B virus in the United States: infection, exposure, and immunity rates in a nationally representative survey. Ann Intern Med. 2011; 154: 319–328.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Lanini S, Puro V, Lauria FN, Fusco FM, Nisii C, Ippolito G. Patient to patient transmission of hepatitis B virus: a systematic review of reports on outbreaks between 1992 and 2007. BMC Med. 2009; 7: 15–23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Kevin Konty, PhD, at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bureau of Epidemiology, for consultation on the methods used in these analyses as well as for helpful feedback on the manuscript.

Funding

This study was made possible in part by funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Emerging Infections Program.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Anne Marie France

    Present address: Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Epidemic Intelligence Service, Office of Workforce and Career Development, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Anne Marie France

  2. New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York, NY, USA

    Anne Marie France, Katherine Bornschlegel, Julie Lazaroff, Joseph Kennedy & Sharon Balter

Authors
  1. Anne Marie France
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Katherine Bornschlegel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Julie Lazaroff
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Joseph Kennedy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Sharon Balter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anne Marie France.

Additional information

The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

France, A.M., Bornschlegel, K., Lazaroff, J. et al. Estimating the Prevalence of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection—New York City, 2008. J Urban Health 89, 373–383 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-011-9653-7

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-011-9653-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation