Nicotine Dependence among Daily Cigarette Smokers in 14 Countries

middleand high-income countries, although there has been an increase in the number of studies from low-income countries recently. HBV markers measured and definitions of HBV infection varied between studies; 146 studies reported specifically on prevalence of antibodies to HBV core antigen, and 90 reported prevalence of HBV surface antigen. Few papers reported ageor gender-specific prevalence estimates. Conclusions This is the first comprehensive review of the global prevalence of HBV in this high-risk population. Data quality and research methods, particularly HBV markers assessed, varied markedly. Better quality and more complete data are required to accurately assess the scale and significance of this public health problem.