Hepatitis B and C among veterans on a psychiatric ward.
Dig Dis Sci
; 53(6): 1693-8, 2008 Jun.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-17932751
ABSTRACT
Hepatitis B and C are public health problems. Psychiatric patients may be at risk of hepatitis B and C exposure due to lifestyle and inadequate health care. We aimed to determine prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus exposure and associated risk factors in acutely hospitalized psychiatric veterans. A total of 234 individuals consecutively admitted to the psychiatric wards at the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Hospital were asked to participate. A total of 129 patients consented and were screened for viral hepatitis risk factors, hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis B surface and core antibodies, and hepatitis C antibodies. About 31 and 38% of the patients had been exposed to hepatitis B and C viruses, respectively. Several risk factors were associated with exposure. Inpatient psychiatric veterans seem to have increased rates of hepatitis B and C exposure. This highlights the need for prevention of risk behavior in this vulnerable population.
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Veteranos
/
Hepatite C
/
Hospitais Psiquiátricos
/
Pacientes Internados
Tipo de estudo:
Etiology_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
País/Região como assunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Dig Dis Sci
Ano de publicação:
2008
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos