Hepatitis C virus seroprevalence in multi-transfused patients in Colombia.
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%.
Beltrân
Mauricio
M
Instituto National de Salud, Calle 26 # 51-60 CAN Zona 6, Bogota D.C., Colombia. mbeltrand@ins.gov.co
Navas
Maria-Cristina
MC
De la Hoz
Fernando
F
Mercedes Muñoz
Maria
M
Jaramillo
Sergio
S
Estrada
Cecilia
C
Del Pilar Cortés
Lucia
L
Arbelâez
Maria Patricia
MP
Donado
Jorge
J
Barco
Gloria
G
Luna
Martha
M
Uribe
Gustavo Adolfo
GA
de Maldonado
Amalia
A
Restrepo
Juan Carlos
JC
Correa
Gonzalo
G
Borda
Paula
P
Rey
Gloria
G
de Neira
Marlen
M
Estrada
Angela
A
Yepes
Sandra
S
Beltrân
Oscar
O
Pacheco
Javier
J
Villegas
Iván
I
Boshell
Jorge
J
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
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies