Revista clínica española
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Revista clínica española · Oct 2008
Multicenter Study[Seroprevalence of chronic viral hepatitis markers in 791 recent immigrants in Catalonia, Spain. Screening and vaccination against hepatitis B recommendations].
The prevalence of chronic viral hepatitis in the European Union (EU) will vary because of the immigrants coming from countries having an elevated with a higher endemicity of hepatitis B (HBV) and C virus (HCV). Serologic screening in healthy immigrants is a subject that has been discussed in the areas of feasibility, ethics and cost-effectiveness. The main study aims were: a) to know the prevalence of chronic hepatitis markers and, b) to determine the best cost-effectiveness strategy of vaccination against hepatitis B. ⋯ The prevalence of chronic viral hepatitis markers is found to be at an intermediate level between those described by primary and specialized care levels. The prevalences of HBsAg+ and anti-HC+ in the immigrant population, on the whole, are such that it is advisable to screening for them, with the exception of the Latin American community. Previous serologic determination of markers is only cost-effective among the sub-Saharan community.