Cross-Sectional Study to Determine the Prevalence of Hepatitis B and C Virus Infection in High Risk Groups in the Northeast Region of Brazil

Abstract

Background: HBV (Hepatitis B Virus) and HCV (Hepatitis C Virus) infections are more prevalent in vulnerable populations than the general population. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of HBV and HCV infection in HIV-positive patients (GI), chronic renal failure (CRF) patients (GII) and coagulation disorder individuals (GIII). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2014 to March 2015. Serum samples were tested for markers of hepatitis B and C by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Sociodemographic, epidemiological, clinical and laboratory data and accompanying statistical analyses were performed using Epi Info™ 7. Results: A total of 348 individuals were recruited, i.e., 154 HIV-positive, 143 CRF and 51 coagulopathy patients. Among them, more than 66% were men, and the predominant age group was 26–35 years in GI and 56–65 years in GIII. Most patients had more than 8 years of education (66.2% in GI, 60.6% in GIII and 46.1% in GII), with a family income between 100–400 dollars in more than 48% of patients. The prevalence of the HBsAg marker was 3.9%, 7% and 3.9%, total anti-HBc was 28.6%, 55.9% and 31.4%, and anti-HCV was 1.3%, 12.6% and 47% for GI, GII and GIII, respectively. However, the prevalence of anti-HBs was greater than 70% in all groups. Conclusions: This study shows a high prevalence of HBV and HCV among specific groups compared to the general population. Factors such as age, income, number of sexual partners, sexually transmitted disease burden, blood transfusion history or blood products and blood transfusions before 1994 were associated with a higher prevalence for these infections.

Emergence of New Epidemiological Hepatitis B and C Profiles in High Risk Groups in Latin America

“…In this study, HCV RNA was detected in 5.3% of the patients and genotype 1 was the most frequent, followed by genotypes 2 and 3 [74]. Recently, Barbosa-Ribeiro et al [17] found 12.6% of anti-HCV prevalence in Hemodialysis patients at Northeast Brazil. In Southeast region, anti-HCV prevalence of 13 and 14.8% was found in 2008 and 2010 years [75,76].…”

“…As the same was found for HBV, Ferreira et al [98] observed a decrease in anti-HCV prevalence from 24.2% in 2007 to 4.7% in 2012. However, recent study in coagulopathy patients from Northeast Brazil found 47% of anti-HCV prevalence [17].…”

“…Recent studies found anti-HCV prevalence in HIV infected individuals of 1.3% in Northeast Brazil, 4.6% in Southeast Brazil, 12.9% in South Brazil, 6.9-9.7% in Midwest Brazil [16,17,[24][25][26]. In all of these studies, HCV genotype 1 was the most prevalent.…”

“…Tengan et al [15] reported HBsAg prevalence in HIV of 3.3% in [20,21]. HBV genotype A was the most detected in studies from Brazil and Argentina while genotype F was most found in Colombia [17,[19][20][21][22].…”

“…In Brazil, HBsAg prevalence in HIV infected individuals ranges from 1.9 to 10.3% according geographical regions [15][16][17][18]. Tengan et al [15] reported HBsAg prevalence in HIV of 3.3% in [20,21].…”