title: Prevalence and risk factors of HCV infection in Poland.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  According to small studies carried out in preselected populations, the estimated prevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies in Poland ranges from 0.6 to 2.1%.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of anti-HCV and HCV RNA among patients and healthcare workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anti-HCV antibodies were measured (Elecsys, Roche) in serum samples from 26,057 adults, consecutive patients or healthcare workers, from hospitals and out patient clinics not involved in the management of liver diseases. The majority of them (18,233) consented to fill out an anonymous questionnaire related to possible risk factors for HCV infection. Anti-HCV-positive samples were assessed for HCV RNA (Cobas Amplicor, Roche). A multivariate logistic regression model and the χ² test or the Fisher's exact test were applied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anti-HCV antibodies were detected in 1.9% of individuals, and 31% of them demonstrated HCV RNA, which varied from 26% in hospitals to 66% in specialistic out-patient clinics. Prevalence of anti-HCV was significantly lower in healthcare workers (1.42%) than in patients (1.92%). Significant independent risk factors for anti-HCV positivity were as follows: male sex, more than three hospitalizations in a lifetime, blood transfusions before 1992, and intravenous drug use. The only significant risk factor for HCV RNA was intravenous drug use. An analysis carried out for multispecialistic hospitals demonstrated significantly lower prevalence of HCV RNA positivity in healthcare workers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence of anti-HCV in the Polish population studied was up to 1.9%, but active infection could be diagnosed in only 31% of them. Intravenous drug use, blood transfusions before 1992, multiple hospitalizations, and male sex increase the risk of HCV infection.
authors: Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, ul. Zurawia 14, Poland. robert.flisiak@umwb.edu.pl
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Flisiak
authors: Waldemar
authors: W
authors: Halota
authors: Andrzej
authors: A
authors: Horban
authors: Jacek
authors: J
authors: Juszczyk
authors: Malgorzata
authors: M
authors: Pawlowska
authors: Krzysztof
authors: K
authors: Simon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000635:transmission; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral