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[Prevalence of and risk factors for hepatitis C in blood donors]
Laura Ladrón-de Guevara1, Nicolás Gómez, Mariana Vázquez-Cantarell
1Servicio de Gastroenterología, Centro Médico Nacional 20 de Noviembre, Instituto de Seguridad, Servicios Sociales para los Trabajadores del Estado (ISSSTE), México, D.F. lauraldeg@yahoo.com
Insights
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence in Mexico City blood donors was 0.84%. Key risk factors included sexual relations with prostitutes, transfusions, cocaine use, dental surgery, and contact with infected individuals.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology and Virology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Context:
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) poses a significant global health challenge.
- Blood donation screening is crucial for preventing transfusion-transmitted infections.
- Understanding local prevalence and risk factors is vital for targeted interventions.
Purpose:
- To determine the prevalence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among blood donors.
- To identify and analyze risk factors associated with HCV infection in this population.
Summary:
- A case-control study analyzed 41,957 blood donors from 1996-2000.
- HCV prevalence was 0.84%. Significant risk factors identified included sexual relations with prostitutes, previous transfusions, nasal cocaine use, dental surgery, and contact with infected individuals.
- A notable finding was that 30% of initially sero-positive donors recalled risk factors upon re-interview.
Impact:
- Provides essential epidemiological data on HCV in Mexican blood donors.
- Highlights specific high-risk behaviors and exposures that warrant public health attention.
- Informs blood bank screening protocols and public health campaigns to reduce HCV transmission.
Objective:
Determine hepatitis C prevalence and risk factors in blood donors from the Blood Bank at the Centro Médico Nacional 20 de Noviembre ISSSTE, in Mexico City.
Methods:
A total of 41,957 blood donors were included in the study was done from January 1996 to August 2000. To study risk factors, a case-control study cases were defined as blood donors with repeatedly positive anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) ELISA test. Controls were defined as blood donors with negative anti-HCV ELISA test. All cases were interviewed a second time on HCV infection-associated risk factors. Odd ratio (OR) and confidence interval 95% (CI 95%) were calculated for each risk factoring in a univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis was performed subsequents to determine the independent contribution or each risk factor.
Results:
HCV crude total prevalence was 0.84%. Risk factors were found in 36.16% anti-HCV-positive blood donors. During the second interview, 30% of sero-positive blood donors recalled one or more risk factors they previously denied. The most important risk factors, found were as follows sexual relations with prostitutes (OR 7.48, CI 95% 1.43-38.92) transfusion (OR 6, CI 95% 2.62-13.72); nasal cocaine use (OR 8.89, CI 95%, 1.01-86.89); dental surgery (OR 8.89, CI 95% 1.01-86.89) and contact with hepatitis-infected subject (OR 3.01, CI 95% 1.17-7.70). Other risk factors did not show a significant association.
Discussion:
In this study, we found a crude total prevalence of 0.84%, very close to the prevalence reported in Mexican population by the National Center for Blood Transfusion.
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