• Ir J Med Sci · Jan 2025

    Community prevalence of blood-borne viruses (hepatitis B and HIV) in Ireland.

    • McCormickP AidenPA0000-0002-5994-6023National Hepatitis C Treatment Program HSE, Liver Unit, St Vincent's University Hospital and UCD, Elm Park, Donnybrook, Dublin 4, DO4 T6F4, Ireland. a.mccormick@ucd.ie., Marie O'Grady, Paul Holder, Cillian F De Gascun, John S Lambert, Orla Crosbie, Susan McKiernan, Maeve Skelly, Garry Courtney, Brian Hennessy, Kevin Walsh, Roisin Twohig, Kate Browne, Tessa O'Gorman, Vivion Crowley, Seán J Costelloe, Roz O'Byrne, Orla Gildea, and Noreen Montgomery.
    • National Hepatitis C Treatment Program HSE, Liver Unit, St Vincent's University Hospital and UCD, Elm Park, Donnybrook, Dublin 4, DO4 T6F4, Ireland. a.mccormick@ucd.ie.
    • Ir J Med Sci. 2025 Jan 23.

    BackgroundChronic infection with hepatitis B virus and HIV causes significant morbidity and mortality. Effective antiviral treatment is available for both. Ireland has historically been considered a low prevalence country. However, with increasing inward migration and diversity, this may be changing.AimsThe aim of this study was to measure the community prevalence of hepatitis B virus and HIV infections in Irish residents born between the years 1965 and 1985.MethodsAnonymised residual serum samples from blood tests ordered by community general practitioners and tested in eight general hospital laboratories, spread across Ireland, were analysed for the presence of Hepatitis B surface antigen and antibodies to HIV.ResultsA total of 6080 samples were analysed for hepatitis B surface antigen including 2993 males, 2807 females and 280 samples for which gender was not recorded. HBsAg was detected in 28/6067 samples giving an estimated prevalence of 0.46% (95% CI 0.32-0.67%). Antibodies to HIV were identified in 18/6064 giving an estimated prevalence of 0.33% (95% CI 0.19-0.47%). The prevalence of both hepatitis B and HIV was significantly higher in Cork (Southwest Ireland) than other centres: hepatitis B (12/1050 vs 16/5017, p = 0.014) and HIV (11/1049 vs 7/5015, p < 0.001).ConclusionsThe prevalence of hepatitis B virus and HIV infections in this cohort appear to be higher than previously estimated. In addition, their prevalence in the Cork area appears particularly high. Whether this represents a true prevalence or a chance finding will require confirmatory studies.© 2025. The Author(s).

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