title: The prevalence of viral hepatitis C in Latvia: a population-based study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chronic viral hepatitis C (VHC) is one of the most discussed infectious diseases worldwide. The number of infected persons worldwide is approximately 170 million, and in Europe, it exceeds 9 million. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV prevalence) and prevalence of HCV viremia (HCV-RNA prevalence) in Latvia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multistage randomized selection was used. A total of 42 primary care physicians (PCPs) were randomly selected from the register of PCPs from different regions of Latvia. From each PCP register, 60 subjects were selected (1651 individuals in total) and invited for the anti-HCV test with a screening method (ELISA). In case of positive results, antibodies were confirmed by the Western blot test, and all these subjects were tested for HCV-RNA by polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1459 subjects tested, 57 were positive for anti-HCV (3.9%; 95% CI 3% to 5%); 35 of them were positive for anti-HCV with a confirmatory test (2.4%; 95% CI, 1.7% to 3.3%): 19 men and 16 women (3.8% and 1.7%, respectively; P=0.011). The results of HCV RNA test were positive in 25 subjects (1.7%; 95% CI, 1.2% to 2.5%): 15 men and 10 women (3% and 1% respectively, P=0.019).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of anti-HCV and HCV-RNA in Latvia was found to be 2.4% and 1.7%, respectively. The prevalence of anti-HCV and HCV-RNA was higher in men than women.
authors.affiliation: Hepatology Department, State Agency, Infectology Center of Latvia, Riga, Latvia. ieva.tolmane@inbox.lv
authors.forename: Ieva
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tolmane
authors.forename: Baiba
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rozentale
authors.forename: Jazeps
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Keiss
authors.forename: Frida
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Arsa
authors.forename: Girts
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brigis
authors.forename: Aivars
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zvaigzne
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007844:Latvia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral