(HealthDay)—The prevalence of any past or present hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection was 4.3 percent among U.S. adults during 2015 to 2018, according to a March data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics.

Deanna Kruszon-Moran, from the National Center for Health Statistics in Hyattsville, Maryland, and colleagues used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to establish 2015 to 2018 prevalence estimates of past or present HBV infection and evidence of hepatitis B vaccination.

The researchers found that the prevalence of any past or present HBV infection was 4.3 percent overall and was higher for men than women (5.3 versus 3.4 percent). Past or present HBV infection was highest among non-Hispanic Asian adults compared with non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Hispanic adults (21.1 versus 2.1, 10.8, and 3.8 percent, respectively); infection was greater for those born outside versus inside the United States (11.9 versus 2.5 percent). Based on blood test results, the prevalence of hepatitis B vaccination was 25.2 percent and was higher among women than men (28.1 versus 22.0 percent). Vaccination was highest among non-Hispanic Asian adults (31.4 percent) versus non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Hispanic adults (26.6, 23.2, and 19.9 percent, respectively).

The prevalence of past or present infection decreased from 5.7 to 4.3 percent from 1999-2002 through 2015-2018; during the same period, evidence of vaccination increased from 12.3 to 25.2 percent.

More information: Abstract/Full Text

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