Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Hepatitis C Virus Infection among Patients Undergoing Chronic Hemodialysis

International Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences | Vol. 11, No. 7, July 2021 | pp. 49–56

DOI: 10.46882/2021/IJMMS/110049

Original Research Article

Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Hepatitis C Virus Infection among Patients Undergoing Chronic Hemodialysis

Patrick O. Diallo¹, Cynthia U. Nwachukwu², Jean-Pierre B. Diop¹*

¹Department of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, Université Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, Senegal.

²Department of Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria.

Abstract:

Patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis are highly vulnerable to nosocomial transmission of blood-borne pathogens due to frequent vascular access and shared treatment environments. This cross-sectional study investigated the seroprevalence and specific risk factors associated with Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection among patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis in regional renal units. Serum samples collected from 210 maintenance hemodialysis patients were screened for anti-HCV antibodies using a third-generation Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Reactive samples were further validated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to detect HCV RNA. Clinical histories, dialysis vintage, and blood transfusion data were extracted from medical registries. The overall seroprevalence of anti-HCV antibodies was 14.3% (30/210), and HCV RNA positivity was confirmed in 73.3% (22/30) of the seroreactive patients, indicating active viremics. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that a dialysis vintage > 24 months (OR = 3.8, 95% CI = 1.9–7.6, p < 0.01), receiving > 5 units of packed red blood cells (OR = 2.9, 95% CI = 1.4–5.9, p < 0.01), and a history of hemodialysis treatment across multiple healthcare centers (OR = 2.4, 95% CI = 1.1–5.2, p < 0.05) were independent risk factors for infection. HCV genotype analysis revealed a predominance of genotype 2 (63.6%) and genotype 1 (27.3%). The high seroprevalence of HCV in hemodialysis units underscores the urgent need for strict adherence to universal infection control precautions, dedicated dialysis machines for infected patients, regular biochemical screening, and expanded access to direct-acting antiviral treatments.

Keywords: Hepatitis C Virus, Hemodialysis, Seroprevalence, Dialysis Vintage, Nosocomial Transmission, HCV RNA

Manuscript Timeline: Received: March 12, 2021; Revised: April 22, 2021; Accepted: May 18, 2021; Published: July 12, 2021.

Citation: Diallo PO, Nwachukwu CU, Diop JPB. Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Hepatitis C Virus Infection among Patients Undergoing Chronic Hemodialysis. International Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences, 2021, 11(7): 49–56. DOI: 10.46882/2021/IJMMS/110049

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