Percent and risk factors of HCV infection in Egyptians attending Alexandria University Hospital

In Egypt HCV infection is a serious problem. The prevalence in 1999 was 18% according to MOHP survey. This study tried to get a clear idea about the percent of HCV in a random sample of students and employees in Alexandria University as compared to the percent of HCV infection in blood donors and to shed light on most of the risk factors. As well as to clarify the relation between DM and HCV infection. Random samples of 428 students, 479 employees and 24,064 blood bank donors were involved in this study. A standard questionnaire was issued to the students and the employees to collect data concerning age, sex, history of previous hepatitis history of blood transfusion, IV schistosomal treatment, intravenous injection [IV], intramuscular injection [IM], subcutaneous injection [SC], tattoo, circumcision, Hogamma [suction cupping], diabetes mellitus [DM] and marital state. Blood samples from the same patients were collected for HCV antibodies, alanine transferase [ALT] and fasting blood sugar levels. Cases with the risk factors were compared with those lacking them using logistic regression, odd ratios and confidence intervals. The prevalence of HCV in the whole group of students and employees was 11.6%. It was 17.2 in the age group above 30 years, and 7.6 in those below 30 years, odd ratio between the two age groups [OR= 2.5, 95% CI: 1.6-3.8, p 0.001]. Percent of HCV in males was 13.5 while in females 7%, [OR= 2.06, 95% CI: 1.2-3.5, p<0.01]. HCV infection in apparently healthy blood bank donors was 3.9% which as expected was lower significantly than the normal population even after it was adjusted for the age variable [p<0.01 vs normal population]. The adjusted OR of the studied risk factors which were statistically significant was as follows: IV schistosomal treatment [tarter emetic] [OR=53, 95% CI: 32-199, p <0.001], blood transfusion before 1994 [OR= 2.5, 95%