Prevalence and Clinical Spectrum of Chronic Viral Hepatitis in a Middle-aged Swedish General Urban Population

Abstract

Background: Although abundant data are available regarding the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B or C virus (HBV, HCV) among both blood donors and patients with liver diseases, corresponding data for the general population are scarce. Accordingly, this study was designed to investigate the prevalence and clinical spectrum of HBV and HCV in a general Swedish middle-aged urban population. Methods: Demographic data and blood samples were collected from subjects enrolled in a prospective study of cancer development in the city of Malmö