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Hepatitis C virus infection among institutionalised psychiatric patients: a regression analysis of indicators of risk
- Source :
- Journal of Hepatology. 27:455-463
- Publication Year :
- 1997
- Publisher :
- Elsevier BV, 1997.
-
Abstract
- Background/Aims: Institutionalised psychiatric patients are at increased risk of developing chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV). However, little information is available on transmission and epidemiology of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in this setting. The aim of this study was to identify potential risk factors of acquiring HCV infection in two large psychiatric institutions in northern Italy. Methods: We designed a case-control study using randomly selected controls from the same study database, consisting of a total of 1180 patients, in order to satisfy the principle that both cases and controls should be representative of the same base experience. A multiple regression logistic analysis was used to identify features that could predict exposure to HXV as evidenced by the presence of circulating anti-HCV antibodies. Results: Anti-HCV was detected in 79 patients (6.7%). The prevalence of viraemia and the distribution of genotypes were very similar to those found in subjects with chronic HCV infection drawn from the same geographical area. Multivariate analysis indicated that a diagnosis of psychosis and a history of trauma were statistically significant independent risk factors associated with a positive anti-HCV result (OR 2.615, 1.273—5.373 95% CI and OR 2.096, 1.133–3.877 95% CI, respectively). Conclusions: The findings of this large epidemiological study show for the first time that prolonged residence in psychiatric institutions does not entail per se a significant risk of acquiring HCV infection. Since transmission of HCV in this setting appears to occur predominantly via classical parenteral routes, simple prophylactic measures appear to be adequate to prevent infection.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Hospitals, Psychiatric
Male
medicine.medical_specialty
Multivariate analysis
Hepatitis C virus
medicine.disease_cause
Risk Factors
Epidemiology
Prevalence
medicine
Humans
Psychiatric hospital
Risk factor
Psychiatry
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Hepatitis B virus
Hepatology
Transmission (medicine)
business.industry
Institutionalization
Middle Aged
Hepatitis C
Chronic infection
Logistic Models
Italy
Case-Control Studies
Regression Analysis
Female
business
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 01688278
- Volume :
- 27
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of Hepatology
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....e59c2e1f1dad6f5c91333912b04bc3c6