Prevalence of hepatitis C virus in a selected geographical area of northern India: a population based survey.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Epidemiological data on hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection from India are scanty. We conducted a population-based seroepidemiologic survey to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis C in Punjab state of northern India.

METHODS

A house-to-house survey was conducted in a defined population of 26,273 subjects. Information was gathered according to a predesigned questionnaire with socio-demographic characteristics (age, gender and substance abuse), family history of HCV infection, general health status, associated co-infection, immunization history and potential risk factors for HCV transmission. At the time of clinical evaluation, blood was tested for anti-HCV and those found positive were tested for HCV RNA.

RESULTS

Among 5,258 subjects screened, 272 were found to be anti-HCV positive (prevalence rate of 5.2 %); highest prevalence being noticed in 41-60 years age group. Anti-HCV positive rate were not different among males and females. Sixty-seven subjects (1.3 %) were found to be HBsAg positive; four of these being co-infected (5.9 %). Various risk factors for acquiring HCV infection identified were history of surgery, dental treatment and unprotected sex. Other associations were strong family history of HCV positivity, alcohol consumption and diabetes mellitus.

CONCLUSION

Chronic HCV infection is a major health problem in Punjab; it appears to be more common than HBV infection. Exercising safe health care related procedures should be emphasized in our country as main modes of transmission of infection identified were related to these.