Hepatitis C Virus Prevalence in Hemodialysis Patients
Author Information
Author(s): Khan Sanaullah, Attaullah Sobia, Ali Ijaz, Ayaz Sultan, Naseemullah, Khan Shahid Niaz, Siraj Sami, Khan Jabbar
Primary Institution: Kohat University of Science and Technology
Hypothesis
What is the prevalence of active Hepatitis C Virus infection and its genotypes among hemodialysis patients in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa?
Conclusion
The study found a high prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus among hemodialysis patients, indicating significant ongoing risk factors for infection.
Supporting Evidence
- 29.2% of patients were anti-HCV positive.
- 80.4% of anti-HCV positive patients were HCV RNA positive.
- The dominant HCV genotypes were 3a, 3b, and 1a.
- The study highlights the need for improved infection control practices in dialysis centers.
- HCV prevalence among dialysis patients is significantly higher than in the general population.
Takeaway
This study shows that many patients on dialysis have Hepatitis C, which can spread easily in hospitals if proper care isn't taken.
Methodology
The study used polymerase chain reaction to detect HCV RNA and genotyping in 384 hemodialysis patients.
Potential Biases
There may be biases in self-reported risk factors and the selection of patients from specific hospitals.
Limitations
The study may not account for all potential risk factors and relies on self-reported data for some demographic information.
Participant Demographics
The mean age of participants was 40.9 years, with 244 males and 140 females.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.004
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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