Sofia C Carvalhana1, Jorge Leitão, Ana C Alves, Mafalda Bourbon, Helena Cortez-Pinto. 1. aDepartment of Gastroenterology, Hospital de Santa Maria bLaboratório de Nutrição, FML, Universidade de Lisboa cCenter of Biodiversity Functional & Integrative Genomics (BioFIG), Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisboa dUnidade de Hepatologia, Serviço de Medicina Interna, Centro Hospitalar e Universitario de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The prevalence of anti-HCV and HBsAg in Portugal has been shown to be elevated in high-risk groups, such as intravenous drug-users and incarcerated individuals. However, in the general population, prevalence remains largely unknown. The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of anti-HCV and HBsAg in the general Portuguese population and identify associated risk factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We carried out a nationwide, population-based cross-sectional study of adults resident in mainland Portugal. Serology for HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HBs, and anti-HCV was performed. Anti-HCV-positive individuals were tested for HCV RNA by PCR. RESULTS: Of 1685 participants, 50.6% were men, mean age 50.2±18.3 years. In terms of hepatitis C, the prevalence of anti-HCV was 0.54% [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.2-0.9] and 0.12% (95% CI: 0.0-0.3) were viremic, with peak prevalence among individuals 35-64 years of age (0.8%), men (0.8%), and individuals from Lisbon and Tagus Valley region (1.9%).In terms of hepatitis B, the estimated prevalence of HBsAg was 1.45% (95% CI: 0.9-2.0). A higher prevalence was found in individuals who were 35-64 years old (2.2%), in men (2.5%), and in the Northern region (2.6%).The presence of positive serological markers of hepatitis C virus and hepatitis B virus infection did not correlate with elevated aminotransferases, race, place of birth, and alcohol consumption. CONCLUSION: These results suggest a low endemicity for both hepatitis B and hepatitis C in the general population, in contrast to a very high prevalence in risk groups, thus suggesting that targeted screening to high-risk groups may be more cost-effective than general population screening.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The prevalence of anti-HCV and HBsAg in Portugal has been shown to be elevated in high-risk groups, such as intravenous drug-users and incarcerated individuals. However, in the general population, prevalence remains largely unknown. The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of anti-HCV and HBsAg in the general Portuguese population and identify associated risk factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We carried out a nationwide, population-based cross-sectional study of adults resident in mainland Portugal. Serology for HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HBs, and anti-HCV was performed. Anti-HCV-positive individuals were tested for HCV RNA by PCR. RESULTS: Of 1685 participants, 50.6% were men, mean age 50.2±18.3 years. In terms of hepatitis C, the prevalence of anti-HCV was 0.54% [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.2-0.9] and 0.12% (95% CI: 0.0-0.3) were viremic, with peak prevalence among individuals 35-64 years of age (0.8%), men (0.8%), and individuals from Lisbon and Tagus Valley region (1.9%).In terms of hepatitis B, the estimated prevalence of HBsAg was 1.45% (95% CI: 0.9-2.0). A higher prevalence was found in individuals who were 35-64 years old (2.2%), in men (2.5%), and in the Northern region (2.6%).The presence of positive serological markers of hepatitis C virus and hepatitis B virus infection did not correlate with elevated aminotransferases, race, place of birth, and alcohol consumption. CONCLUSION: These results suggest a low endemicity for both hepatitis B and hepatitis C in the general population, in contrast to a very high prevalence in risk groups, thus suggesting that targeted screening to high-risk groups may be more cost-effective than general population screening.
Authors: Mariana V Machado; Sara Policarpo; J Coutinho; Sofia Carvalhana; Jorge Leitão; Armando Carvalho; Ana P Silva; Francisco Velasco; Isabel Medeiros; Ana Catarina Alves; Mafalda Bourbon; Helena Cortez-Pinto Journal: Obes Surg Date: 2020-02 Impact factor: 4.129