Resumen de Estudio de la prevalencia de infección por el virus de la hepatitis C y estudio de contactos convivientes

R. Espona Barris, R. López Martínez, A. Guarga Rojas, Josep María Cots, N. Crofts, John Kaldor, G. Cilla , M. Alcorta, H. J. Alter, Francisco López Expósito, C. Massague Camins, A. Cano Romera, A. López Plana

• Objectives. Study of the prevalence of Hepatitis C infection and of cohabiting contacts.

  Design. A descriptive crossover study.

  Setting. Health District.

  Patients. There were a total of 13500 people with histories opened at our centre. The histories of patients attending for general medical consultations between January 1995 and December 1996 were reviewed for Ac+ to the Hepatitis C (HC) virus.

  Results. 145 patients were found to be Ac positive for HC (1.07%; CI, 0.9-1.2). 135 were index cases and 10 contacts. The most important items of history were intravenous drug use in 33 carriers (23%), transfusion in 22 (15%), contact with non-disposable material in 97 (67%) and surgery in 119 (82%). 115 (79%) of those infected had Transaminase disorder (<*10).

  Conclusions. The 1.07% prevalence found was similar to other studies. Previous surgery stood out among the factors causing risk of infection. Prevalence among cohabitants was 7%, half through sexual contacts. Since there was a higher prevalence of HC+ among family members (50% sexual partners), we believe the study should be extended and followed up in the family environment.