title: Hepatitis-C prevalence in an urban native-American clinic: a prospective screening study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Native-American populations are disproportionately burdened by chronic liver disease, and the prevalence of hepatitis C (HCV) in native Americans is unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of hepatitis C in a local native-American population via a prospective screening study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two-hundred-forty-three native Americans (161 females/82 males) using an urban clinic and representing > 30 tribes from across the United States were screened. Mean age was 41 +/- 1 years. Hepatitis-C screening was by anti-HCV with confirmation by HCV RNA. A questionnaire assessed potential risk factors for HCV.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anti-HCV antibodies were found in 11.5% (95% CI: 7.5-15.5%). HCV RNA was present by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 8.6% (95% CI: 5.1-12.1%) and was more common in males [13.4% (95% CI: 6.0-20.8%)] than females [6.2% (95% CI: 2.5-9.9%)]. The most common potential risk factors for chronic HCV infection were intravenous (IV) drug or cocaine use (p < 0.0001), tattoos > 5 years old (p < 0.0001) and having a sexual partner with HCV (p = 0.0063).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HCV prevalence is higher in an urban native-American clinic population than reported in the general U.S. population. Use of IV drugs is the most prevalent risk factor, but tattoos and sexual transmission may also be important.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha 68198-3020, USA.
authors: Amy S
authors: AS
authors: Neumeister
authors: LaVada E
authors: LE
authors: Pilcher
authors: Judi M
authors: JM
authors: Erickson
authors: Lora L
authors: LL
authors: Langley
authors: Mary M
authors: MM
authors: Murphy
authors: Nicole M
authors: NM
authors: Haukaas
authors: Mark E
authors: ME
authors: Mailliard
authors: Jennifer L
authors: JL
authors: Larsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006786:Hospitals, Urban / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009329:Nebraska / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications; D013653:Tattooing; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D016549:United States Indian Health Service; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies