Hepatitis B virus cohort studies worldwide

Kee Mee-Kyung, Shin YoungHyun, Kim Kisoon
Division of Viral Disease Research, Center for Infectious Disease Research, KNIH, KCDC
Ahn Sang Hoon
Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine

Hepatitis B virus is a major cause of liver diseases such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in Korea. Markedly for men, the death rate due to liver diseases in Korea is the highest among the OECD countries, especially in patients in their 40s who engage in many social activities. Other countries that have high prevalence of chronic viral hepatitis, such as Taiwan and Greece, have extensive epidemiological data on the prevalence and causes of chronic liver disease, based on large cohort studies. By using long-term follow-up results of large cohort studies, they have investigated the causes and risks of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma development and established guidelines for appropriate treatment, according to national circumstances. In 2015, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention established a hepatitis B cohort study in Korea to prevent hepatitis B virus infection and disease progression. Here, we introduce several cohorts, which have already been established in other countries. By sharing cohort experience with other countries, we expect to establish a Korean hepatitis B cohort for future investigations.

Keywords: Hepatitis B, Cohort study, Liver disease, Hepatocellular carcinoma, Chronic viral hepatitis