title: Prevalence and risk factors of HCV infection in a metropolitan area in southern Italy: Tail of a cohort infected in past decades.
abstract: Data on the prevalence of HCV infection in Italy are often outdated and from non-urban populations. This study assessed the prevalence and risk factors for HCV infection in a large metropolitan area in southern Italy. A random 1:3 systematic sample of the adult general population of Naples was selected from three general practitioner patient registers in three different city districts. Socioeconomic indicators and risk factors for HCV infection were collected. Anti-HCV and HCV-RNA assays were performed. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of HCV infection. Of 1,500 randomly selected subjects, 1,315 (87.7%) participated in the study. Forty subjects (3.0%; 95%CI: 2.1-4.0) were anti-HCV-positive, with HCV-RNA detected by PCR in 31 (77.5%) of these. Anti-HCV prevalence increased with age, peaking (8.2%) in people born during the years 1945-1955. It was 1.7% in people residing in the better socioeconomic districts; but 5.7% in those residing in the district with lower socioeconomic status (P < 0.01). In multivariate analysis, age ≥60 years (OR 2.8, 95%CI: 1.3-6.1) and lower educational level (OR 3.6; 95%CI: 1.4-9.3), which is a proxy of low socioeconomic status, were the only independent predictors of the likelihood of anti-HCV positivity. Overall, 22.5% of anti-HCV positive subjects were previously unaware of their status. In the large city of Naples, infection with HCV is most common in people aged older than 60 years. Differences in socioeconomic conditions have played an important role in the spread of this infection. HCV positive subjects born during the years 1945-1955 are those who may benefit, to a greater extent, to be identified in order to receive the new effective therapy. J. Med. Virol. 89:291-297, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Filomena
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Morisco
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Loperto
authors.affiliation: Department of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stroffolini
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Epidemiology, Surveillance and Health Promotion, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Flavia Lucia
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Lombardo
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cossiga
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guarino
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Feo
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Caporaso
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D004493:Education; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral
keywords: epidemiology; hepatitis C; prevalence; risk factors