Matthew E Wise ^1* Frank Sorvillo ²

¹ UCLA School of Public Health
² Los Angeles County Department of Health Services

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: carter78{at}aol.com.

	Abstract

Objectives: To estimate the hepatitis A (HA) mortality rate in California, to assess demographic disparities in HA-related mortality, and to examine co-morbidities listed on the death certificate. Methods: HA-related deaths occurring in California from 1989 to 2000 were identified using multiple-cause-of-death files and mortality rates and rate ratios were calculated. Results: Four-hundred and two deaths were identified over the study period, representing an annual age-adjusted HA-related mortality rate of 1.20 deaths per 1,000,000 persons. Older people, males, Latinos, and Native Americans/Alaska Natives demonstrated elevated mortality rates. Liver conditions and non-A viral hepatitis infections were more common among HA-related deaths than all other deaths. Conclusions: Reevaluation of current immunization practices should be undertaken and consideration should be given to expanding current vaccination guidelines for groups with elevated HA-related mortality.

Key Words: Immunization/Vaccines, Hepatitis, Mortality