Frequency and risk factors of hepatitis B and C in Afghan patients presenting to tertiary care hospital in Peshawar

ABSTRACT

To document the frequency and risk factors of Hepatits B and C in Afghan patients presenting to a tertiary care hospital in Peshawar. Descriptive study. Rehman Medical Institute [RMI], Peshawar from 1st January, 2012 to 31st December, 2012. A total of 2166 Afghan national were included in the study who underwent surgery in RMI through consecutive, non-probability sampling. Hepatits B surface antigen [HBsAg] and anti-HCV antibody tests were performed by ELISA method. All patients who were positive for either of the two or both were investigated by a researcher-administered questionnaire to find the risk factors for seropositivity of hepatitis. Out of a total of 2166 patients, 104 patients [4.8%] were found to be positive. Seventy-eight patients [75%] were HepBsAg positive while 24 patients [23%] were anti-HCV antibodies positive while 2 patients were positive for both viruses. Re-use of unsterilized syringes [23%] and history of previous surgery [19.2%] were the most common risk factors whereas no risk factor could be identified in 15 patients [14%]. Seventynine patients [76%] were newly diagnosed at time of test while 25 patients [24%] were known cases of either HBV or HCV. Only one patient had clinical/laboratory features of chronic liver disease while no patient had underwent Hep B vaccination or had hepatocellular carcinoma. A high seroprevalance of HBV and HCV was found in this study. Reuse of unsterilized syringes, history of previous surgery and tattoos piercing were found to be the most common risk factors