Risk Factors for Hepatitis C Virus Infection among Patients with End Stage Renal Disease in Hemodialysis Unit -Al Kindy Teaching Hospital, Baghdad

Abstract

background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a common global public healthproblem, and it is a significant problem among patients with end stage renal diseaseon hemodialysis (HD).Aim: To determine the risk factors of HCV infection among patients with end stage renaldiseae on HD.Patients and methods: A case control study was performed in HD units of Al-kindyteaching hospital in the period between October 2011- August 2012. A total of ninetypatients with Positive Anti HCV and ninety patients with Negative anti-HCV were enrolledin this study.Anti-HCV antibody was detected by the third generation enzyme immunoassay (ELISA).Direct interview was done with each patient, odds ratio and 95% CI were used to testsignificant differences.Results: The results showed that 40 males and 50 females with positive antiHCV test didn’tshow any significant difference in comparison with 38 Males 52 females with negative HCVtest regarding gender or age. It was found that as the number of dialysis passed 50 timesthe chance of getting HCV infection would be significantly high but as the frequencypassed 100 times, the probability of getting infection would be significantly less.History of blood transfusion made prediction of having HCV infection significantly high.Absence of history of jaundice did not affect significantly probability of having hepatitis Cinfection among patients on HD. There was no association between history of diabetesmellitus and/or hypertension and probability of getting HCV infection.Conclusion The blood transfusion was significantly associated with HCV infection. FrequentHD increase probability of getting HCV but not when the number passed 100 times.