Standardized prevalence ratios for chronic hepatitis C virus infection among adult Japanese hemodialysis patients.
BACKGROUND
Many studies have estimated the prevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody among hemodialysis (HD) patients; however, the prevalence of HCV core antigen-which indicates the presence of chronic HCV infection-is not known.


METHODS
Standardized prevalence ratios (SPRs) for anti-HCV antibody and HCV core antigen among HD patients (n = 1214) were calculated on the basis of data from the general population (n = 22 472) living in the same area.


RESULTS
The prevalences of anti-HCV antibody and HCV core antigen were 12.5% and 7.8%, respectively, in male hemodialysis patients, and 8.5% and 4.1% in female hemodialysis patients. The SPRs (95% confidence interval) for anti-HCV antibody and HCV core antigen were 8.39 (6.72-10.1) and 12.9 (9.66-16.1), respectively, in males, and 5.42 (3.67-7.17) and 8.77 (4.72-12.8) in females.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalences of chronic HCV infection among male and female HD patients were 13-fold and 9-fold, respectively, those of the population-based controls. Further studies should therefore be conducted to determine the extent of chronic HCV infection among HD patients in other populations and to determine whether chronic HCV infection contributes to increased mortality in HD patients.
Ohsawa
Masaki
M
Department of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Iwate Medical University, Morioka, Japan. masakio@iwate-med.ac.jp
Kato
Karen
K
Itai
Kazuyoshi
K
Tanno
Kozo
K
Fujishima
Yosuke
Y
Konda
Ryuichiro
R
Okayama
Akira
A
Abe
Koichi
K
Suzuki
Kazuyuki
K
Nakamura
Motoyuki
M
Onoda
Toshiyuki
T
Kawamura
Kazuko
K
Sakata
Kiyomi
K
Akiba
Takashi
T
Fujioka
Tomoaki
T
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens