THE PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS-C IN PATIENTS ADMITTED WITH ACUTE HEPATITIS TO FAIRFIELD INFECTIOUS-DISEASES HOSPITAL, 1971-1975

Objective: To identify and determine trends in the prevalence of hepat itis C virus (HCV) antibody in stored sera from 1971 to 1975 and to de termine associations with HCV seropositivity, including markers for ot her hepatitis infections and possible routes of transmission. Design: A retrospective cross-sectional study. Patients and setting: 1511 adul ts admitted to Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital, Victoria, with a clinical and biochemical diagnosis of hepatitis between 1 January 19 71 and 31 December 1975. Main outcome measures: Prevalence over study period of hepatitis A virus antibody (anti-HAV) IgM, hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV) in stored sera; sociodemographic data and risk factors for blood-borne viruses documented in original medical r ecords. Results: Anti-HCV was detected in 17% of adults admitted with hepatitis from 1971 through 1975. Prevalence increased significantly o ver this period. Most cases were in young men who had a history of inj ecting drug use. HCV seropositivity was also significantly associated with markers for hepatitis B infection. Conclusions: Given the 20-30-y ear period between infection with hepatitis and the development of liv er disease, our findings predict significant liver-related morbidity i n Australia in the next decade. The increase in prevalence over the fi ve years studied suggests rapid spread of HCV through susceptible popu lations, principally injecting drug users.