Abstract
Average annual age-adjusted mortality rates per 100,000 from primary hepatic carcinoma (PHC) among males for 1971-1973 in the urban and rural areas of the 9 geographical regions of Greece were estimated. Hepatitis-B surface antigen (HBsAg) prevalence by region and area was evaluated in a sample of 22,844 Greek Air Force recruits from all parts of the country. Mortality from PHC was found significantly higher in urban areas (28-30 vs. 18-81) whereas prevalence of HBsAg was higher in rural areas (5-3% vs. 3-90%). Nevertheless further statistical analysis showed that there is a strong correlation between HBsAg prevalence and mortality from PHC, which is higher in rural (r = + 0-88) than in urban (+ 0-57) areas. The latter findings indicate that hepatitis B infection and PHC may be causally related.
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Trichopoulos, D., Papaevangelou, G., Violaki, M. et al. Geographic correlation between mortality from primary hepatic carcinoma and prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen in Greece. Br J Cancer 34, 83–87 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1976.125
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1976.125
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