The prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) among turkish immigrants in Germany

K.M. Burgazli, M. Mericliler, C. Sen, M. Tuncay, Y. Gökce, B. Nayir, H.U. Klör, K. Sinterhauf, E. Karatay, Y. Bilgin

Internal Medicine, Research and Medical Center Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany. burgazlk@uni-koeln.de

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• Infectious Diseases

AIM: To determine the seroprevalence of Hepatitis B (HBV) among Turkish immigrants living in Germany.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional, multi-centered study was conducted among 1319 Turkish immigrants who were living in Germany and admitted to the clinics for any reason. Participants were tested for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B surface antibody (Anti-HBs) and antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (Anti-HBc).
RESULTS: 37.3% of the participants were tested positive for Anti-HBc. Of these, 45.8% percent was showed positivity for anti-HBc. 25.6% of all donors were showed positive results for Anti-HBc. HbsAg seroprevalence was found as 5%. Furthermore, 90% of participants with positive HBsAg had positive results for Anti-HBc. Males had significantly higher rates of Anti-HBc and HBsAg positivity than females.
CONCLUSIONS: Turkish immigrants living in Germany represented higher seroprevalence rate of HBV than total population of Germany.

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