6. Sero-Positive Rate of Hepatitis-C Viral Infection in Patients of Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases in Rural Communities of Punjab Pakistan
Syed Amir Gilani1, Muhammad Athar Khan1, Ahmad Azam Malik1 and Amjad Iqbal Burq2
ABSTRACT
Objective: To estimate the prevalence rate of hepatitis-C (HCV) viral infection in terms of detection of serum antibodies in the patients of different categories of communicable and non-communicable diseases in the communities of rural Punjab, Pakistan.
Study Design: Observational / descriptive / cross sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Institute of Public Health, the University of Lahore from 1st January 2015 to 31st December 2015.
Materials and Methods: A total of 3830 patients from Southern, Central and Northern Punjab were selected. Method of probability based random sampling was employed. For this purpose 5ml of blood was collected and subsequently serum was separated for testing the sero-positivity rate against the antibodies of hepatitis C virus. In non-communicable disease category, patients belonged to illnesses of cardiovascular system, diabetes mellitus, dental diseases, minor and major surgical interventions, gynaecological, obstetrical, blood transfusion, accidental wounds, and injectables given with glass syringes at multiple occasions. In the communicable disease category, patients belonged to diseases of malaria, dengue fever and typhoid fever.
Results: Maximum seropositivity rates of 46% and 43% were observed in the patients who were given injectables parenterally with non-disposable glass syringes and dental patients respectively, then 39% obstetrical and blood transfused patients. A sero-positivity rate of 37% and 34% was observed in the surgical patients, cardiovascular disease patients respectively. Sero-positivity rate in descending order in other categories was 30% in minor surgery patients, 30% in diabetes patients, 20% in malarial patients, 17% in gynaecological patients, 10% in typhoid patients and 17% in dengue fever patients.
Conclusion: High prevalence rate of hepatitis-c virus was found in patients who were injected with glass syringes frequently and dental patients residing in rural Punjab, Pakistan.
Key Words: Seropositivity, prevalence rate, hepatitis C viral infection, antibodies against HCV
Citation of article: Gilani SA, Khan MA, Malik AA, Burq AI. Sero-Positive Rate of Hepatitis-C Viral Infection in Patients of Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases in Rural Communities of Punjab Pakistan. Med Forum 2017;28(6):21-23.