ABSTRACT
OBJETIVO: Estimar la prevalencia de la infección por VHC en la población general de un área sanitaria a través de una intervención en Atención Primaria, diferenciando entre nuevos diagnósticos e infecciones previamente diagnosticadas pero no tratadas. MÉTODOS: Se seleccionaron participantes mediante un cuestionario de evaluación de riesgo, realizando un test rápido a todos aquellos con alguna respuesta afirmativa y a todos los mayores de 50 años. Las pruebas positivas se confirmaron en el laboratorio mediante determinación de anticuerpos frente al VHC por enzimoinmunoensayo de micropartículas quimioluminiscente y determinación de la viremia. RESULTADOS: Del total de 7.991 participantes, el 36,2% presentó cuestionario de riesgo para VHC. Se realizaron 4.717 test, encontrando una proporción de anti-VHC de 0,65% en la población cribada, quedando en 0,46% de infecciones activas. El 51,9% de las personas con test positivo tenían un diagnóstico previo conocido pero no habían recibido tratamiento, por no ser conscientes de ello o no encontrarse vinculados al sistema sanitario, y el 19,2% tuvo un resultado positivo por primera vez. La prevalencia de infección oculta fue mayor en hombres, mayores de 50 años, y personas procedentes de Europa del Este. CONCLUSIÓN: Encontramos una prevalencia de infecciones activas superior a la descrita recientemente a nivel nacional, y con mayor porcentaje de pacientes nuevamente diagnosticados que en trabajos similares en otras áreas. Estas diferencias justifican la necesidad de realizar evaluaciones locales de la prevalencia de infección por VHC en cada una de las áreas de salud donde se plantee implementar y monitorizar un programa de microeliminación
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of HCV infection in the general population of a health area through an intervention in Primary Care, differentiating between new diagnoses and infections previously diagnosed but not treated. METHODS: Participants were selected through a risk assessment questionnaire, with all those who gave at least one affirmative answer and all those over 50 years of age undergoing a rapid test. Positive tests were confirmed in the lab by determination of anti-HCV antibodies by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay and determination of viraemia. RESULTS: Of the 7,991 participants, 36.2% presented a positive HCV risk questionnaire. 4,717 tests were performed, finding an anti-HCV percentage of 0.65% in the screened population, with 0.46% of active infections. Among the individuals with a positive test result, 51.9% had a known prior diagnosis but had not received treatment, because they were not aware of it or were not linked to the health system, and 19.2% had a positive result for the first time. The prevalence of hidden infection was higher in men, those over 50 years of age and people from Eastern Europe. CONCLUSION: We found a prevalence of active infections higher than recently described nationwide, and a higher percentage of newly diagnosed infections than recent similar studies in other areas. These differences justify the need to perform local assessments of the prevalence of HCV infection in each of the health areas where it is planned to implement and monitor a microelimination programme
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adolescent , Young Adult , Adult , Middle Aged , Hepatitis C/epidemiology , Hepatitis C/diagnosis , Primary Health Care , Prevalence , Surveys and Questionnaires , Risk Assessment , Spain/epidemiologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of HCV infection in the general population of a health area through an intervention in Primary Care, differentiating between new diagnoses and infections previously diagnosed but not treated. METHODS: Participants were selected through a risk assessment questionnaire, with all those who gave at least one affirmative answer and all those over 50 years of age undergoing a rapid test. Positive tests were confirmed in the lab by determination of anti-HCV antibodies by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay and determination of viraemia. RESULTS: Of the 7,991 participants, 36.2% presented a positive HCV risk questionnaire. 4,717 tests were performed, finding an anti-HCV percentage of 0.65% in the screened population, with 0.46% of active infections. Among the individuals with a positive test result, 51.9% had a known prior diagnosis but had not received treatment, because they were not aware of it or were not linked to the health system, and 19.2% had a positive result for the first time. The prevalence of hidden infection was higher in men, those over 50 years of age and people from Eastern Europe. CONCLUSION: We found a prevalence of active infections higher than recently described nationwide, and a higher percentage of newly diagnosed infections than recent similar studies in other areas. These differences justify the need to perform local assessments of the prevalence of HCV infection in each of the health areas where it is planned to implement and monitor a microelimination programme.
