title: Anti-HCV antibody positivity of various sections of Pakistani patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the anti-HCV antibody status of various sections of the Pakistani population and patients as reported in various Pakistani studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  A meta-analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Medicine, Rawalpindi Medical College and Allied Hospitals, Rawalpindi, from July 2007 to July 2008.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data pertaining to anti-HCV antibody status of various sections of the Pakistani population and patients was collected from studies published till July 2008. To note anti-HCV antibody status, 15 groups of subjects like liver disease patients, general blood donors, adult screening, and community prevalence etc. were identified. The frequency of total and anti-HCV antibody positive subjects of each group was noted. Chi2 was used as test of significance for comparison wherever appropriate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from 183 studies was collected; 1004391 subjects anti-HCV antibody status was retrieved. 4.27% (n=42982) of these were anti-HCV antibody positive. Major bulk of patients with liver disease (56.9%), 2.71% of general and 10.39% of professional blood donors groups were positive, (p < 0.05). Positivity in community and adult screening was 11.52 and 6.29% respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to the studies in consideration; 2.71% of Pakistani general blood donors and major bulk of liver disease patients are anti-HCV positive. Community based anti-HCV positivity is 11.52%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Rawalpindi Medical College, Rawal Road, Rawalpindi.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Umar
authors.forename: Hamama-tul-Bushra
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Khaar
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khurram
authors.forename: Zubair
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hasan
mesh_terms: D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies