title: High prevalence of hepatitis C infection among patients receiving hemodialysis at an urban dialysis center.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the seroprevalence and risk factors for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among patients at an urban outpatient hemodialysis center.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study of 227 patients undergoing hemodialysis at the Rogosin Kidney Center on December 15, 1998, with a response rate of 90% (227 of 253). Laboratory records were used to retrieve the total number of blood transfusions received and serologic study results. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to examine the relationship among HCV serostatus, patient demographics, and HCV risk factors (eg, intravenous drug use [IVDU], intranasal cocaine use, multiple sexual partners, comorbidities, length of time receiving hemodialysis, and total number of blood transfusions received).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The seroprevalence of antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) was 23.3% (53 of 227) in the population. In univariate analysis, factors associated with HCV seropositivity included male gender, younger age, history of IVDU, history of intranasal cocaine use, history of multiple sexual partners, human immunodeficiency virus coinfection, increased time receiving dialysis, history of renal transplant, and positive antibody to hepatitis B core antigen. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that longer duration receiving dialysis and a history of IVDU were the only risk factors that remained independently associated with HCV seropositivity
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HCV is markedly more common in our urban cohort of patients receiving hemodialysis compared with patients receiving dialysis nationally and is associated with a longer duration of receiving dialysis and a history of IVDU. Stricter and more frequent enforcement of universal precautions may be required in hemodialysis centers located in areas with a high prevalence of HCV infection or IVDU among the general population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Sumathi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sivapalasingam
authors.forename: Sharp F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Malak
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lorch
authors.forename: Kent A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Sepkowitz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies