Factors associated with hepatitis C virus transmission in the area of high incidence of hepatic cancer in Japan

Abstract

We assessed the risk factors of HCV transmission by a cross-sectional study while measuring anti-HCV antibodies in the area of high incidence of liver cancer. The second generation anti-HCV antibodies were applied to 1151 males and 2429 females. Simultaneously, potential risk factors were surveyed with a structured questionnaire. The unconditional logistic regression analysis was applied to adjust the age. The age-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for anti-HCV seropositivity were significantly higher in the male subjects who had undergone blood transfusion (OR=2.65) and in those whose father had suffered from liver disease (OR=2.12). The age-adjusted odds ratios for anti-HCV seropositivity were significantly higher in the female subjects who had undergone blood transfusion (OR=1.90) or prior surgical intervention without blood transfusion (OR=1.30) and in those whose parent or sibling had suffered from liver disease (OR=1.74). As a result of the additional survey, the age-adjusted odds ratios for anti-HCV seropositivity were significantly higher in the male subjects (OR=2.46) and in the female subjects (OR=1.81) who had undergone acupuncture therapy. In conclusion, we were able to provide additional evidence of the several risk factors of HCV transmission by the survey in the high-incidence area of liver cancer.