title: Who should be checked for hepatitis C virus infection in endemic areas?
abstract: To find additional factors suggestive of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the general population by using data from a hepatitis virus survey.
  
  
  
  This study collected data of HCV infection from a hepatitis virus survey. The survey was conducted in 13 provinces in the northeast Thailand in 2014 and 2015. During the survey, a blood test was performed to screen for HCV. A questionnaire was also distributed to all participants asking about baseline characteristics, risk factors for HCV infection, and daily life activities. Risk factors for HCV infection were executed.
  
  
  
  There were 2112 participants for the survey. Of those, 110 participants (5.21%) tested positive for HCV infection. After adjustment by multivariate logistic regression, three factors were significantly associated with HCV infection, namely male gender, age, and family history of liver cancer. The adjusted ORs and 95% CI of these factors were 3.14 (1.50, 6.56), 3.78 (1.12, 12.76), and 2.28 (1.08, 4.80), respectively.
  
  
  
  Male gender, increasing age, and family history of liver cancer are predictors of HCV infection in endemic areas. Males with a family history of liver cancer in their first-degree relatives should be tested for HCV infection regardless of symptoms.
authors: Department of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand; Liver Disease Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand.
authors: Wattana
authors: W
authors: Sukeepaisalncharoen
authors: Department of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand.
authors: Udomlack
authors: U
authors: Peansukwech
authors: Department of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand; Research Center in Back, Neck Other Joint Pain and Human Performance (BNOJPH), Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand; Internal Medicine Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand. Electronic address: kittisak@kku.ac.th.
authors: Kittisak
authors: K
authors: Sawanyawisuth
keywords: Age; Family history; Hepatitis C virus; Risk factors; Sex