Hepatitis C risk factors in Iranian volunteer blood donors: a case-control study.
BACKGROUND
In order to evaluate some possible risk factors for the spread of hepatitis C infection a case-control study was undertaken.


METHODS
The study population consisted of first time blood donors referred to the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and recombinant immunoblot assay anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) tests were performed for all samples. Risk factors were evaluated using a questionnaire. A stepwise forward logistic regression analysis was used.


RESULTS
The case group consisted of 193 HCV-positive donors, and 196 HCV-negative donors comprised the control group. Transfusion, undergoing endoscopy, extramarital sexual activities, non-intravenous (i.v.) drug abuse, i.v. drug abuse, and receiving wounds at war were found to be independent risk factors of being HCV-positive (Odds ratio: 17, 4, 42.2, 34.4, 52.8 and 5.2, respectively). No apparent risk factors could be demonstrated in 24.5% of the positive cases.


CONCLUSIONS
This study could be of particular interest because of the low seroprevalence of hepatitis C and the religious culture of the study population. There are certain medical procedures, lifestyle patterns, and customs and cultural matters in Iran that predispose people to a number of HCV risk factors.
Alavian
Seyed Moayed
SM
Tehran Hepatitis Center, Tehran, Iran. sm_alavian@alavian-thc.org
Gholami
Bardia
B
Masarrat
Sadegh
S
D000328:Adult; D001782:Blood Donors; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013653:Tattooing