Hepatitis C prevalence and risk factors in the northern Alberta dialysis population

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an emerging global public health issue with part icular relevance in multiply transfused renal dialysis patients. This cross -sectional study evaluated the prevalence and risk factors for HCV infectio n among renal dialysis patients in northern Alberta, Canada. Ninety-two per cent of eligible patients (n = 336) provided informed consent to participat e. Participants were interviewed to gather risk factor information and, usi ng multiple logistic regression analysis with exact inference, a predictive model for HCV infection in this population was developed. The prevalence o f HCV infection in the population was 6.5%, and all positive patients had a t least one identifiable risk factor. The multivariate analysis showed that the risk of HCV infection was greater for those in the 18-55 years age cat egory (odds ratio (OR) = 4.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2-27.9), patie nts who had been on dialysis >5 years (OR = 3.7, 95% CI 1.2-12.0), and pati ents who had greater than or equal to 2 high risk lifestyle behaviors (OR = 5.0, 95% CI 1.5-16.7). Transfusion prior to 1990 was marginally associated with HCV status (OR = 4.0, 95% CI 0.96-16.3). This study documented previo usly unreported life-style risk factors for HCV infection in patients with renal failure, confirmed the expected decline in transfusion-acquired HCV i nfection in this population, and provided evidence against nosocomial trans mission of HCV.