Prevalence of antibodies for the hepatitis C virus in the lowland (bajio) region of Mexico.
OBJECTIVE
Infection with the hepatitis C virus (HVC) is one of the most common viral infections worldwide. Approximately 170 million individuals are infected worldwide. HCV is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. In Mexico, according to the National Health Survey 2000, it is estimated that 70,000 cases exist. We undertook this study to estimate the prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies in patients with association to the risk factors for HCV infection in the lowland (bajio) region.


METHODS
There were 2803 individuals 15 years of age or older who were treated at the General Hospital Zone #4 who were included in this study. Following informed consent, the participants were given a questionnaire listing the major risk factors for hepatitis C. If they answered positive to any of these identified factors, a blood sample was taken to determine anti-HCV antibodies via ELISA analysis.


RESULTS
Average age in this study was 38.4 ± 13.5 years, and 75.5% were female (n = 2116). Anti-HCV antibodies were isolated in 1.3% of the patients (n = 36). The most commonly identified risk factor among all the participants was a history of previous transfusions (28.8 % of all patients, n = 813 and 41.7%, n = 15 of those with positive HCV antibodies). This was the only statistically significant risk factor identified in this study (p = 0.066).


CONCLUSIONS
Mexico is currently considered to have a lower prevalence for HCV in relation to developed countries and other endemic areas. The figures reported are lower than those observed in this study, suggesting that the strategies for detecting HCV in Mexico may be inadequate.
Health Education and Research, General Hospital Zone #4, Mexican Institute of Social Security, Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico. Electronic address: cruz-mau@hotmail.com.
Mauricio A
MA
Cruz-Ruíz
Fernando
F
Lopez Diaz
Fernando P
FP
González-Ibarra
Christian
C
Lara-Ortega
Ana Laura
AL
Muñoz-Ledo Guzman
Gloria A
GA
Patiño-López
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D055815:Young Adult
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies
Hepatitis C; Mexico; Prevalence