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How are HCV-infected patients being identified in Brazil: a multicenter study
Portari-Filho, Luiz H; Álvares-da-Silva, Mario R; Gonzalez, Aline; Ferreira, Adalgisa P; Nogueira, Cristiane V; Mendes-Correa, Maria C; Lima, José M; Lopes, Edmundo P; Brandão, Carlos E; Ivantes, Cláudia; Lyra, André; Lindenberg, Andreia; Ferraz, Maria L.
  • Portari-Filho, Luiz H; Universidade Federal de São Paulo. São Paulo. BR
  • Álvares-da-Silva, Mario R; Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Porto Alegre. BR
  • Gonzalez, Aline; Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Campinas. BR
  • Ferreira, Adalgisa P; Universidade Federal do Maranhão. São Luiz. BR
  • Nogueira, Cristiane V; Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Rio de Janeiro. BR
  • Mendes-Correa, Maria C; Universidade de São Paulo. Instituto de Medicina Tropical. São Paulo. BR
  • Lima, José M; Universidade Federal do Ceará. Fortaleza. BR
  • Lopes, Edmundo P; Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. Recife. BR
  • Brandão, Carlos E; Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro e Hospital Universitário Gaffrée e Guinle. Rio de Janeiro. BR
  • Ivantes, Cláudia; Prefeitura Municipal de Curitiba. Curitiba. BR
  • Lyra, André; Hospital São Rafael - Monte Tabor. Salvador. BR
  • Lindenberg, Andreia; Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul. Campo Grande. BR
  • Ferraz, Maria L; Universidade Federal de São Paulo. São Paulo. BR
Braz. j. infect. dis ; 23(1): 34-39, Jan.-Feb. 2019. tab, graf
Article in English | LILACS | ID: biblio-1001496
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT

Background:

Hepatitis C is an important health problem. In Brazil, 1-2 million people are infected. Despite this expressive number, and the availability of very successful treatment, many patients remained undiagnosed mainly because of the asymptomatic nature of the infection.

Objectives:

To describe epidemiological characteristics of HCV-infected patients seen at referral centers in Brazil, the source of referral, and the time spanned to reach a reference center, in order to improve the identification of undiagnosed patients.

Methods:

Multicenter observational, cross-sectional study carried out in 15 centers of Brazil, between January/2016 and June/2017. Data of patients with a confirmed diagnosis (anti-HCV and HCV-RNA) were collected by interview using standard questionnaires and by review of charts.

Results:

Two thousand patients were included; 55.1% were male, mean age 58 ± 11 years. Only 14.9% had higher education and 84.2% received up to five monthly minimum Brazilian wages (approximately US$260.00/month). The time between diagnosis and beginning of follow-up was 22.9 months. The most common reasons for testing were check-up (33.2%) and blood donation (19%). General practitioners diagnosed most of the patients (30.1%). Fibrosis stage was mainly evaluated by liver biopsy (61.5%) and 31.3% of the patients were cirrhotic at diagnosis.

Conclusions:

This multicenter Brazilian study showed that the mean time to reach a referral center for treatment was almost two years. Primary care physicians diagnoses most hepatitis C cases in the country. Population campaigns and medical education should be encouraged to intensify screening of asymptomatic individuals, considering the efficiency of check-ups in identifying new patients.
Subject(s)


Full text: Available Index: LILACS (Americas) Main subject: Hepatitis C, Chronic Type of study: Controlled clinical trial / Observational study / Prevalence study / Prognostic study / Risk factors Limits: Aged / Female / Humans / Male Country/Region as subject: South America / Brazil Language: English Journal: Braz. j. infect. dis Journal subject: Communicable Diseases Year: 2019 Type: Article Affiliation country: Brazil Institution/Affiliation country: Federal University of Rio de Janeiro/BR / Hospital São Rafael - Monte Tabor/BR / Prefeitura Municipal de Curitiba/BR / Universidade Estadual de Campinas/BR / Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul/BR / Universidade Federal de Pernambuco/BR / Universidade Federal de São Paulo/BR / Universidade Federal do Ceará/BR / Universidade Federal do Maranhão/BR / Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul/BR

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Full text: Available Index: LILACS (Americas) Main subject: Hepatitis C, Chronic Type of study: Controlled clinical trial / Observational study / Prevalence study / Prognostic study / Risk factors Limits: Aged / Female / Humans / Male Country/Region as subject: South America / Brazil Language: English Journal: Braz. j. infect. dis Journal subject: Communicable Diseases Year: 2019 Type: Article Affiliation country: Brazil Institution/Affiliation country: Federal University of Rio de Janeiro/BR / Hospital São Rafael - Monte Tabor/BR / Prefeitura Municipal de Curitiba/BR / Universidade Estadual de Campinas/BR / Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul/BR / Universidade Federal de Pernambuco/BR / Universidade Federal de São Paulo/BR / Universidade Federal do Ceará/BR / Universidade Federal do Maranhão/BR / Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul/BR