OBJECTIVES: In this systematic literature review we sought to determine whether tattooing is a risk factor for the transmission of hepatitis C. METHODS: A comprehensive search was performed to identify all case-control, cohort or cross sectional studies published prior to November 2008 that evaluated risks related to tattooing or risk factors of transmission of hepatitis C infection. RESULTS: A total of 124 studies were included in this systematic review, of which 83 were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of the association of tattooing and hepatitis C from all studies was 2.74 (2.38-3.15). In a subgroup analysis we found the strongest association between tattooing and risk of hepatitis C for samples derived from non-injection drug users (OR 5.74, 95% CI 1.98-16.66). CONCLUSIONS: Findings from the current meta-analysis indicate that tattooing is associated with a higher risk of hepatitis C infection. Because tattooing is more common among the youth and young adults and hepatitis C is very common in the imprisoned population, prevention programs must focus on youngsters and prisoners to lower the spread of hepatitis infection.
OBJECTIVES: In this systematic literature review we sought to determine whether tattooing is a risk factor for the transmission of hepatitis C. METHODS: A comprehensive search was performed to identify all case-control, cohort or cross sectional studies published prior to November 2008 that evaluated risks related to tattooing or risk factors of transmission of hepatitis C infection. RESULTS: A total of 124 studies were included in this systematic review, of which 83 were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of the association of tattooing and hepatitis C from all studies was 2.74 (2.38-3.15). In a subgroup analysis we found the strongest association between tattooing and risk of hepatitis C for samples derived from non-injection drug users (OR 5.74, 95% CI 1.98-16.66). CONCLUSIONS: Findings from the current meta-analysis indicate that tattooing is associated with a higher risk of hepatitis C infection. Because tattooing is more common among the youth and young adults and hepatitis C is very common in the imprisoned population, prevention programs must focus on youngsters and prisoners to lower the spread of hepatitis infection.
Authors: Maria Kalafateli; Elena Buzzetti; Douglas Thorburn; Brian R Davidson; Emmanuel Tsochatzis; Kurinchi Selvan Gurusamy Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2017-03-13
Authors: Marisol Peña-Orellana; Adriana Hernández-Viver; Glorimar Caraballo-Correa; Carmen E Albizu-García Journal: J Health Care Poor Underserved Date: 2011-08
Authors: Meredith E Clement; Lauren F Collins; Julius M Wilder; Michael Mugavero; Taryn Barker; Susanna Naggie Journal: Infect Dis Clin North Am Date: 2018-06 Impact factor: 5.982