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Abstract

Hepatitis C Screening in the General Population

VOLUME 67 - NUMBER 2 / March-April (Original articles)

David Kershenobich-Stalnikowitz, General Director, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
Clara Corona-Lau, Laboratorio Biomedica de Referencia, México, D.F., Mexico
Linda Muñoz, Liver Unit, Hospital Universitario, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, N.L., Mexico
Enrique Wolpert-Barraza, ABC Medical Center, Mexico City, Mexico
Margarita Dehesa, Fundación Mexicana para la Salud Hepática, México, D.F., Mexico
Luz Marí­a Aguilar-Valenzuela, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, México, D.F., Mexico
Concepción Gutiérrez, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, México, D.F., Mexico

Background: A significant number of patients infected with hepatitis C virus remain unaware of their infection, as this is a silent disease for many years. Patients are frequently detected at advance stages of the disease. Objective: To identify the prevalence and viremic stage of hepatitis C among a general population cohort. Methods: Anti-hepatitis C virus detection and viral RNA were offered without cost to individuals who voluntarily considered it relevant to be examined, as part of the World Hepatitis Day annually from 2007-2014. Results: A total of 32,945 individuals were analyzed; 57% were female and 43% male. Of them, 75.7% were between 21-50 years old. In 59%, the sample was obtained at their work place and in 41% at the facilities of 12 private laboratories. Anti-hepatitis C virus was positive in 194 patients (0.58%), of which 129 (66%) were confirmed positive by polymerase chain reaction. The overall prevalence of viremic cases in the sample was 0.39%. Conclusions: Adequate estimation of the prevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus and viremic population, not only among high-risk groups but also in the general population, is central to the allocation of resources in an effort to reduce the consequences of the disease.

Keywords: Hepatitis C. Screening. Epidemiology. Direct acting antiviral.

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