title: The prevalence of hepatitis C in patients admitted with acute hepatitis to Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital, 1971-1975.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify and determine trends in the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody in stored sera from 1971 to 1975 and to determine associations with HCV seropositivity, including markers for other hepatitis infections and possible routes of transmission.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  1511 adults admitted to Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital, Victoria, with a clinical and biochemical diagnosis of hepatitis between 1 January 1971 and 31 December 1975.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prevalence over study period of hepatitis A virus antibody (anti-HAV) IgM, hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV) in stored sera; sociodemographic data and risk factors for blood-borne viruses documented in original medical records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anti-HCV was detected in 17% of adults admitted with hepatitis from 1971 through 1975. Prevalence increased significantly over this period. Most cases were in young men who had a history of injecting drug use. HCV seropositivity was also significantly associated with markers for hepatitis B infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the 20-30-year period between infection with hepatitis and the development of liver disease, our findings predict significant liver-related morbidity in Australia in the next decade. The increase in prevalence over the five years studied suggests rapid spread of HCV through susceptible populations, principally injecting drug users.
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology and Social Research Unit, Macfarlane Burnet Centre for Medical Research, Melbourne, Vic.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Rodger
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jolley
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Byrne
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Best
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Crofts
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies