Hepatitis C screening and detection program in a large population: Epidemiological transition and characterization of the disease.
Liver Int
; 43(6): 1225-1233, 2023 06.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37026404
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is considered an important public health challenge. Traditionally identified risk factors have undergone an epidemiological transition where other risk factors have become the main cause of new infections.OBJECTIVE:
To describe risk factors associated to hepatitis C positivity through the evaluation of the epidemiological profile in hepatitis-C high-risk populations.METHODS:
Cross-sectional study was conducted as part of an HCV screening program in Mexican population. All participants answered an HCV risk-factor questionnaire and took a rapid test (RT). All patients reactive to the test were subject to HCV PCR (polymerase chain reaction) confirmation. A logistic regression model was used to examine associations between HCV infection and risk factors.RESULTS:
The study included 297 631 participants that completed a risk factor questionnaire and underwent an HCV rapid test (RT). In total, 12 840 (4.5%) were reactive to RT and 9257 (3.2% of participants) were confirmed as positives by PCR test. Of these, 72.9% had at least one risk factor and 10.8% were in prison. Most common risk factors were history of acupuncture/tattooing/piercing (21%), intravenous drug use (15%) and high-risk sexual practices (12%). Logistic regressions found that having at least one risk factor increased the probability of having an HCV-positive result by 20% (OR = 1.20, 95% CI 1.15-1.26), compared to the population without risk factors.CONCLUSIONS:
We identified 3.2% of HCV-viremic subjects, all associated with risk factors and older age. Screening and diagnosis of HCV in high-risk populations (including underserved populations) should be more efficient.Key words
Full text:
1
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Substance Abuse, Intravenous
/
Hepatitis C
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Etiology_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
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Risk_factors_studies
/
Screening_studies
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Year:
2023
Type:
Article