BACKGROUND:
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a cause of substantial morbidity in the United States. However there is little information on HBV related mortality and comorbidities contributing to HBV deaths.

OBJECTIVE:
Assess HBV-mortality in the United States for the 12-year period (1990-2001).

METHOD:
Using multiple cause of death data, crude and age-adjusted mortality rates and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for age group, gender, racial/ethnic group and year. Possible HBV-related comorbid conditions were evaluated by matched comparison of HBV-related deaths to other deaths.

RESULT:
The overall age-adjusted HBV mortality rate was 0.72 (95% CL 0.71, 0.73) per 100,000 person years over the 12-year period. The age adjusted mortality rates were highest in males (3.3, 95% CL 3.2, 3.4), Asians (3.6, 95% CL 3.5, 3.7) and Blacks (1.3, 95% CL 1.24, 1.32). Foreign born persons compromised 19.3% of the deaths. Among Asians, crude HBV mortality rates were highest in the individuals classified as Vietnamese (36.52, 95% CL 36.51, 36.52), Chinese (3.32, 95% CL 3.32, 3.33) and Korean (3.24, 95% CL 3.24, 3.25). Other viral hepatities, primary hepatocellular carcinoma, HIV, and other liver conditions were substantially more likely to be listed on HBV death records than non-HBV deaths.

CONCLUSION:
HBV is an important cause of preventable mortality in the U.S. Mortality rates are highest in males, Blacks and Asians. Continued immunization efforts are necessary to reduce the burden of HBV mortality.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Understand the importance of hepatitis B as a cause of mortality in the United States and recognize the demographic groups at increased risk of dying from Hepatitis B.