title: Hepatitis C seroprevalence in an at-risk population in the southwest Madrid region of Spain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The estimated seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Spain is 1.7%, but is much higher in the at-risk population. The most efficient national screening strategy is unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence of HCV among the at-risk population seen in primary care (PC), and to determine their epidemiological profile.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional descriptive prevalence study that included adult patients with risk factors for HCV infection seen in PC in the southwest Madrid region between 2010 and 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 158 patients (men=51.3%), mean age 46 years (SD=16.6), were included. The most common risk factors were hypertransaminasaemia (44.3%) and major surgery (13.3%). Immigration, unsafe sexual practices, and tattoos or body piercing were more prevalent in patients younger than 45 years of age. Fifteen patients (9.5%) were positive for anti-HCV; 9 of these (5.7%) were HCV-ARN positive. Of the positive patients, 4 (44.4%) had significant fibrosis at diagnosis (F3-F4). Male patients had a higher rate of positive anti-HCV results (13.8 vs. 5.3%; P=.072), as did patients older than 45 years of age (12.8 vs. 6.3%; P=.167). Intravenous and intranasal drug use were associated with a higher rate of positive anti-HCV results (50 vs. 8.5%; P=.005 and 66.7 vs. 8.4%; P=.001, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with risk factors for HCV infection have high seroprevalence. Screening programmes must therefore be implemented to detect HCV infection in this population in PC.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón, Alcorcón, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alonso López
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón, Alcorcón, Madrid, España; Unidad de Digestivo, Departamento de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Móstoles, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agudo Fernández
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud Ramón y Cajal, Dirección Asistencial Oeste, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García Del Val
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud Gregorio Marañón, Dirección Asistencial Oeste, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martínez Abad
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud Miguel Servet, Dirección Asistencial Oeste, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Paloma
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: López Hermosa Seseña
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud Los Castillos, Dirección Asistencial Oeste, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: María Jesús
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Izquierdo
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud Ramón y Cajal, Dirección Asistencial Oeste, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Núñez
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud Gregorio Marañón, Dirección Asistencial Oeste, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Berbel León
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud Ramón y Cajal, Dirección Asistencial Oeste, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Visedo Campillo
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud Ramón y Cajal, Dirección Asistencial Oeste, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guisado Pérez
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud Gregorio Marañón, Dirección Asistencial Oeste, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sánchez Lozano
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud Ramón y Cajal, Dirección Asistencial Oeste, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mariño Pfeiffer
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud Ramón y Cajal, Dirección Asistencial Oeste, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: García Bermúdez
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud Gregorio Marañón, Dirección Asistencial Oeste, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Francisco Javier
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Sánchez Jiménez
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud Ramón y Cajal, Dirección Asistencial Oeste, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: López Vega
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud Los Castillos, Dirección Asistencial Oeste, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zambrano Álvarez
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud Miguel Servet, Dirección Asistencial Oeste, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: M Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Castro Pastor
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud Gregorio Marañón, Dirección Asistencial Oeste, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Guadalupe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Montes Ramírez
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud Miguel Servet, Dirección Asistencial Oeste, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Murillo
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud Ramón y Cajal, Dirección Asistencial Oeste, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Noelia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Villafranca Ortega
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud Gregorio Marañón, Dirección Asistencial Oeste, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ayuso Hernández
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud Los Castillos, Dirección Asistencial Oeste, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Espejo
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud Gregorio Marañón, Dirección Asistencial Oeste, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lasala López
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón, Alcorcón, Madrid, España; Servicio de Medicina Preventiva, Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Facultad Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Gil
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rodríguez Caravaca
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón, Alcorcón, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Carrascosa Aguilar
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón, Alcorcón, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: María Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez García
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón, Alcorcón, Madrid, España. Electronic address: cfernandez@fhalcorcon.es.
authors.forename: Conrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fernández Rodríguez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population; D014766:Viremia / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral
keywords: Anti-HCV antibodies; Anticuerpos anti-VHC; Cribado; Factores de riesgo; Risk factors; Screening; Seroprevalence; Seroprevalencia