Hepatitis C screening in the general population.
BACKGROUND
A significant number of patients infected with hepatitis C virus remain unaware of their infection, as this is a silent disease for many years. Patients are frequently detected at advance stages of the disease.


OBJECTIVE
To identify the prevalence and viremic stage of hepatitis C among a general population cohort.


METHODS
Anti-hepatitis C virus detection and viral RNA were offered without cost to individuals who voluntarily considered it relevant to be examined, as part of the World Hepatitis Day annually from 2007-2014.


RESULTS
A total of 32,945 individuals were analyzed; 57% were female and 43% male. Of them, 75.7% were between 21-50 years old. In 59%, the sample was obtained at their work place and in 41% at the facilities of 12 private laboratories. Anti-hepatitis C virus was positive in 194 patients (0.58%), of which 129 (66%) were confirmed positive by polymerase chain reaction. The overall prevalence of viremic cases in the sample was 0.39%.


CONCLUSIONS
Adequate estimation of the prevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus and viremic population, not only among high-risk groups but also in the general population, is central to the allocation of resources in an effort to reduce the consequences of the disease.
Laboratorio Biomedica de Referencia, México, D.F., Mexico.
Clara
C
Corona-Lau
Liver Unit, Hospital Universitario, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, N.L., Mexico.
Linda
L
Muñoz
Fundación Mexicana para la Salud Hepática, México, D.F., Mexico.
Enrique
E
Wolpert
Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, México, D.F., Mexico.
Luz Ma
LM
Aguilar
Fundación Mexicana para la Salud Hepática, México, D.F., Mexico.
Margarita
M
Dehesa
Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, México, D.F., Mexico.
Concepción
C
Gutiérrez
Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, México, D.F., Mexico.
David
D
Kershenobich
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral