ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives: Hepatitis C and chronic kidney disease [CKD] are major global health problems and are highly prevalent in Pakistan. There is limited information on prevalence of hepatitis C in patients with CKD not yet on dialysis. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of hepatitis C in hospitalized chronic kidney disease patients at a tertiary care center in Pakistan
Methods: The study design was cross-sectional in nature. Patients between ages of 20-80 years with CKD not previously on renal replacement therapy and who were admitted to nephrology ward at a tertiary care facility were included. Hepatitis C was tested using 3[rd] generation enzyme linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]. Hepatitis C RNA was tested by polymerase chain reaction [PCR] in patients with positive ELISA
Results: A total of 180 patients were included in the study. Mean age of patients was 48.7 +/- 14.9 years. Of all patients, 105 [58.3%] were males and 75 [41.7%] were females, 152 [84.4%] had hypertension, 113 [62.8%] had diabetes mellitus and 26 [14.9%] had known cardiovascular disease. Mean eGFR of patients was 11.4 +/- 9.4 ml/min/1.73 m2. Of all patients with CKD, 49 [27.2%] had hepatitis C test positive by ELISA. Hepatitis C PCR testing was done in 39 patients with hepatitis C ELISA positive status and 29 [74.4%] tested positive. Risk factors and clinical characteristics of patients with and without positive hepatitis C antibody by ELISA were similar
Conclusion: A significant proportion of hospitalized CKD patients have hepatitis C. Strict universal infection control measures should be implemented in nephrology wards to prevent transmission of hepatitis C infection