[Changes in seroepidemiology of hepatitis A virus infection in Catalonia in the period 1989-1996. Implications for new vaccination strategy].

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of the risk factors of hepatitis A virus infection (HAV) in a representative sample of a Catalonian population obtained from 1995 to 1996 and the changes in the prevalence of this infection over the period of 1989-1996.

Subjects And Methods: The prevalence of anti-HAV was determined by an ELISA test in a randomized sample of 2,142 individuals, 884 from 6 to 14 years of age and 1,248 over the age of 15 years. The results were related to sociodemographic variables and multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to establish which variables were related to the risk of infection.

Results: The global prevalence of HAV infection was 67.8%. The prevalence of HAV infection increased from 3.5% in the group from 5-14 years of age to 99% in that over the age of 64 years (p < 0.001). A higher prevalence was observed in those born outside of Catalonia (odds ratio [OR] = 3.97; 95% CI, 2.4-6.4) and in those with a lower level of education (OR = 2.60; 95% CI, 1.9-3.5). In the period 1989-1996 the prevalence of the infection has decreased in the population under the age of 45, the differences being statistically significant in the age groups 10-14 (p < 0.0001) and 25-34 (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions: The prevalence of HAV infection has progressively decreased in Catalonia while it proportionally increases the susceptible population under the age of 45 years. These findings may be important in the design of strategies for the prevention of HAV infection with universal vaccination programs against this disease.