title: Hepatitis C virus seroprevalence in multi-transfused patients in Colombia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection is a public health problem worldwide, with particular relevance in multi-transfused patients given that HCV is principally transmitted by exposure to infected blood.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between February and September 2003 a cross-sectional study was carried out in four hospital centres in Bogotá and Medellin, Colombia, to determine the risk factors for HCV infection in 500 multi-transfused patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study population was distributed in five groups: haemophilia, haemodyalsis, acute bleeding, ontological illnesses and sickle cell disease or thalassemia. Serum samples from patients were tested for HCV antibodies (Asxym, Abbott). An overall prevalence (9.0%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 6.4-11.6) (45/500) of HCV infection was found. Anti-HCV antibodies were detected in 32.2% of patients with haemophilia, 6.1% of patients undergoing haemodialysis, 7.1% of patients with sickle cell disease or thalassemia, 2.6% of patients with acute bleeding and 3.4% of patients with ontological or hematological diseases. The main risk factors associated with infection by HCV were: to be hemophilic (odds ratio, OR = 18.03; 95% Cl: 3.96-114.17), having received transfusions before 1995 (OR = 12.27; 95% Cl: 5.57-27.69), and having received more than 48 units of blood components (OR = 6.08; 95% CI: 3.06-12.1). In the multivariate analysis, only the year of transfusions (before 1995) remained significantly associated with risk of infection by HCV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data show a 3-fold reduction in the infection risk between 1993 and 1995, when the serological screening for HCV in blood donors was being introduced. A reduction greater than 90% was achieved by 1995 when the screening coverage reached 99%.
authors.affiliation: Instituto National de Salud, Calle 26 # 51-60 CAN Zona 6, Bogota D.C., Colombia. mbeltrand@ins.gov.co
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beltrân
authors.forename: Maria-Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Navas
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De la Hoz
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mercedes Muñoz
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jaramillo
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Estrada
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Del Pilar Cortés
authors.forename: Maria Patricia
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Arbelâez
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Donado
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barco
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luna
authors.forename: Gustavo Adolfo
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Uribe
authors.forename: Amalia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Maldonado
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Restrepo
authors.forename: Gonzalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Correa
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Borda
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rey
authors.forename: Marlen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Neira
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Estrada
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yepes
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Beltrân
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pacheco
authors.forename: Iván
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Villegas
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boshell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D005260:Female; D006467:Hemophilia A; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies