High prevalence of hepatitis C associated with familial history of hepatitis in a small town of south Brazil: efficiency of the rapid test for epidemiological survey

• Published in: The Brazilian journal of infectious diseases Vol. 14; no. 5; pp. 483 - 488
• Main Authors: Ivantes, Cláudia Alexandra Pontes, Silva, Danilo, Messias-Reason, Iara
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Contexto 01-09-2010; Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Brazil; Brazil - epidemiology; Chromatography; Epidemiologic Methods; Epidemiology; Family Health; Female; Genotype; Hepacivirus - genetics; Hepacivirus - immunology; Hepatitis C; Hepatitis C - diagnosis; Hepatitis C - epidemiology; Hepatitis C - immunology; Hepatitis C Antibodies - blood; Hepatitis C virus; Humans; INFECTIOUS DISEASES; Male; Middle Aged; Prevalence studies (Epidemiology); Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; Sensitivity and Specificity; Socioeconomic Factors; Surveys; Young Adult; Brazil; Brazil; epidemiology; hepatitis C
• ISSN: 1413-8670; 1678-4391; 1678-4391
• DOI: 10.1590/S1413-86702010000500010

This report describes a cross-sectional survey on the prevalence of hepatitis C antibodies (anti-HCV) in Tamboara, a small community in the northwest area from Paraná State, south of Brazil with a high rate of accumulated detection for HCV. Eight hundred and sixteen residents (17.87% from all the population), independently of the age and time living in Tamboara were included in this study by an epidemiologic questionnaire and by testing for anti-HCV. The rapid immuno-chromatographic test was applied for detection of HCV antibodies. The anti-HCV prevalence by rapid test was 4.28%. The median age for positive and negative test was 60.49 ± 14.14 and 41.67 ± 20.25, respectively (p < 0.001). By multivariate analysis, only familial history of hepatitis (p = 0.001; OR = 6.41; CI 95% = 2.08-19.78) and age (p = 0.007; OR 1.06;95% CI = 1.02-1.10) showed statistical significance for positive anti-HCV. The rapid test sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 92.7% respectively, with an accuracy of 95.8% (95% CI = 91-100). These findings demonstrated a high prevalence of anti-HCV in Tamboara. The familial history of hepatitis was a significant risk factor to the infection and HCV rapid test showed to be accurate and feasible for epidemiological survey.