title: Prevalence of active hepatitis C virus infections among general public of Lahore, Pakistan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To find out the prevalence of active hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections among general public in Lahore city, since data concerning the prevalence of active HCV in this city is currently unavailable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were collected randomly from individuals visiting different clinical laboratories in Lahore. Serum was separated and processed by nested PCR qualitative assay for the detection of HCV RNA. The samples were categorized into different age groups on the basis of pre-test questionnaires in order to record the age-wise differences regarding the prevalence of active HCV. Data were analyzed statistically using Chi-Square test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of the 4246 blood samples analyzed in this study, 210 were confirmed to be positive for active HCV infection. Gender-wise active HCV prevalence revealed no significant difference [OR = 1.10 CI = (0.83-1.46), p > 0.05]. However, among the age groups the highest prevalence was observed in the age groups 20-29 (7.7%) and 30-39 years (6.4%) with odds of prevalence of 14.8% (OR = 2.48, CI = (1.40-4.38), p < 0.05) and 10.3% (OR = 2.03, CI = (1.10-3.71), respectively. In age groups above 40 years (40-49, 50-59 and >59 years), a decrease in levels of active HCV prevalence was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among tested samples, 4.9% of the subjects were confirmed to harbour active HCV infections and the "middle aged" population in Lahore was found to be at a higher risk of the HCV ailments compared to both their younger and older peers.
authors.affiliation: Health Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Jhang Road, P, O, BOX 577, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan. hamzamgondal@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Muhammad Ikram
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Anwar
authors.forename: Moazur
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: Mahmood Ul
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: Mazhar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iqbal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D044967:Serum / Q000821:virology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral