Abstract
BackgroundIt is well documented that Egypt has the highest prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the world. The recent development of highly effective direct acting antiviral drugs (DAAs), has opened the possibility of treating and curing HCV infection in the Egyptian population on a large scale.MethodsA screening demonstration project was implemented in southern Egypt in and around the city of Luxor. Free screening and if indicated, treatment, was offered to those 16 years or older for anti-HCV antibodies (anti-HCV) and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) using third generation enzyme immunoassays (Enzygnost® Anti-HCV and HbsAg). Statistical methods included estimation of odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).ResultsThere was a large turnout of 67,042 persons who were screened in a 12-month period starting in June 2016. Thirty-one thousand nine hundred sixty-four males (47.7%) and 35,074 females (52.3%) were screened with a mean age of 43.6 ± 14.3 years. Nine thousand seven hundred one patients (14.5%) were positive for anti-HCV and 2950 (4.4%) for HBsAg. Prevalence of anti-HCV was significantly higher in males than females (19.67% vs.9.73% OR = 2.27; CI 2.2 to 2.4; p < 0.001) and the same for HBsAg (6.2% vs. 2.8% OR = 2.3; CI 2.2 to 2.5; p < 0.001). The prevalence of anti-HCV was significantly associated with age (p < 0.001), ranging from between 1 and 4% in individuals below the age of 40 years, then increased steadily to 42% at age 60 followed by a precipitous decline in age specific prevalence.ConclusionsThe results showed unanticipated patterns in the Luxor area of anti-HCV and HBsAg by age and gender in contrast to previous reports on this unique HCV epidemic in Egypt. Moreover, the level and rate of turnout, cost, and other logistical issues, provided essential information for effective planning, design, and evaluation methods for larger national mass screening and treatment programs.
Highlights
It is well documented that Egypt has the highest prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the world
Complete screening data for anti-HCV and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) testing of 67,042 persons was available at time of data analysis and included 31,965 males (47.7%) and 35,077 females (52.3%)
Prevalence of anti-HCV was significantly higher in males than females (19.67% vs. 9.73% crude odds ratios (OR) (cOR) = 2.27; 95% confidence intervals (CI) 2.2 to 2.4; p < 0.0001)
Summary
It is well documented that Egypt has the highest prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the world. HCV is a global health problem [1] and Egypt has the highest HCV prevalence in the world, estimated to be 15% in some studies [2, 3] This Egyptian HCV epidemic has historic origins; many consider the cause to be injection campaigns carried out by the health authorities in the nineteen sixties and seventies. In these campaigns, intravenous injection of tartar emetic was used to treat rural endemic schistosomiasis. The largest HCV RNA positive asymptomatic population in the world [10]
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.