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Hepatitis C virus infection in blood donors in Santa Catarina, Brazil, 2010-2020
Fabiana Schuelter-Trevisol1, Gabriel Tadeu Ossani2, Gabriel Oscar Cremona Parma1
1Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina, Brazil.
Insights
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection positivity in Santa Catarina blood donations decreased from 2010-2020. Most cases were in adults, with higher rates in southern and coastal regions, showing a downward trend over time.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Hepatitis C is a chronic liver inflammation transmitted via blood.
- Understanding transmission dynamics is crucial for public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) positivity rate in blood donations in Santa Catarina, Brazil.
- To analyze the temporal trends and spatial distribution of HCV infections from 2010 to 2020.
Main Methods:
- Historical cohort study design.
- Inclusion of blood donors who tested positive for HCV between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2020.
- Analysis of donation data from the Public Blood Network of Santa Catarina.
Main Results:
- Overall HCV positivity rate of 59.4 per 100,000 donations (782 positive cases out of 1,316,605 donations).
- HCV-positive donors were predominantly adults, male, white, married, with secondary education.
- Highest positivity rates were concentrated in the South and Coastal Regions, but cases were distributed across all macro-regions.
Conclusions:
- A decreasing temporal trend in HCV positivity was observed in Santa Catarina blood donations.
- Sociodemographic characteristics of HCV-positive donors align with previous regional studies.
- Specific regions, including South, Alto Vale do Itajaí, Meio Oeste, Serra Catarinense, and Grande Oeste, exhibited higher HCV positivity rates.
Introduction:
Hepatitis C is a silent disease characterised by a persistent inflammatory process in the liver. Since blood is the main route of transmission, the objective of this study was to estimate the positivity rate of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in blood donations from the Public Blood Network of the State of Santa Catarina and to analyse the temporal trend and spatial distribution of cases between 2010 and 2020.
Methods:
This historical cohort study included blood donors who tested positive for HCV and donated blood at the service between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2020.
Results:
Out of a total of 1 316 605 blood donations, 782 new samples tested positive for HCV, corresponding to an overall positivity rate of 59.4 per 100 000 donations. The majority of HCV-positive donors were adults, male, of white skin colour, married, and had at least a secondary education. Most HCV-positive cases were found in the South and Coastal Regions of Santa Catarina, although municipalities with high positivity rates were observed across all macro-regions of the state.
Conclusions:
The HCV positivity rate in blood donations from the Public Blood Network of the State of Santa Catarina demonstrated a downward trend over time, while maintaining sociodemographic characteristics similar to those reported in other regional studies. Furthermore, although HCV cases were reported in all macro-regions, the highest positivity rates occurred in the South, Alto Vale do Itajaí, Meio Oeste, Serra Catarinense, and Grande Oeste regions.
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