title: Epidemiology of hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infections among hemodialysis patients in Khartoum, Sudan.
abstract: The epidemiology of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) is important for health planners and service providers. A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the seroprevalence and associated risk factors for markers of HBV (HBsAg) and anti-HCV among hemodialysis patients at the Ahmed Gasim hemodialysis unit, Sudan. Structured questionnaires were used to obtain socio-demographic data and sera were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody to HCV (anti-HCV). Of the 353 patients enrolled in the study, HBsAg and anti-HCV were detected in 16 (4.5%) and 30 (8.5%) patients, respectively. None of the patients were co-infected with HBV and HCV. Multivariate analysis showed that duration of dialysis was significantly associated with anti-HCV seropositivity [OR = 1.1, 95% CI = 1.2-1.3; P = 0.024]. No other socio-demographic or clinical characteristics (age, sex, level of education, history of surgery, and number of units of blood transfused) were significantly associated with HBsAg or anti-HCV seropositivity. The results of this study suggest that HBsAg and anti-HCV have low prevalence among hemodialysis patients in Khartoum. Longer duration of dialysis was a risk factor for anti-HCV.
authors: Faculty of Medicine, Qassim University, Qassim, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors: Gasim I
authors: GI
authors: Gasim
authors: Hamdan Z
authors: HZ
authors: Hamdan
authors: Sumaia Z
authors: SZ
authors: Hamdan
authors: Ishag
authors: I
authors: Adam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013397:Sudan / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies