Who should be checked for hepatitis C virus infection in endemic areas?

ABSTRACT

Objective To find additional factors suggestive of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the general population by using data from a hepatitis virus survey. Methods This study collected data of HCV infection from a hepatitis virus survey. The survey was conducted in 13 provinces in the northeast Thailand in 2014 and 2015. During the survey, a blood test was performed to screen for HCV. A questionnaire was also distributed to all participants asking about baseline characteristics, risk factors for HCV infection, and daily life activities. Risk factors for HCV infection were executed. Results There were 2 112 participants for the survey. Of those, 110 participants (5.21%) tested positive for HCV infection. After adjustment by multivariate logistic regression, three factors were significantly associated with HCV infection, namely male gender, age, and family history of liver cancer. The adjusted ORs and 95% CI of these factors were 3.14 (1.50, 6.56), 3.78 (1.12, 12.76), and 2.28 (1.08, 4.80), respectively. Conclusions Male gender, increasing age, and family history of liver cancer are predictors of HCV infection in endemic areas. Males with a family history of liver cancer in their first-degree relatives should be tested for HCV infection regardless of symptoms.