Alternative risk factors of HCV infection in a rural community in China.
A case-control study was conducted in Linxian, Henan Province in China to explore potential risk factors for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection unassociated with injection drug use. One hundred and ninety-two persons (41.7% male, 95.8% aged >60 years) were recruited from an earlier cohort. Of these, 48 were HCV positive and 144 HCV negative. Residence in a plain region and 3-10 injections in a health setting per year were significantly associated with HCV in both univariate and multivariate analysis (P<0.01). In rural China, the geographic distribution of HCV infection was heterogeneous and associated with injections in a health setting, a pattern which differed from the epidemics in injection drug users in urban cities.
Zhang
M
M
Stanley Ho Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Fan
J
J
Li
H
H
Cui
J
J
Qiao
Y
Y
Sung
J
J
Lee
S-S
SS
D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D065227:Transfusion Reaction