EPIDEMIOLOGY OF HEPATITIS-C VIRUS-INFECTION IN AN AREA OF SOUTHERN ITALY

Background/Aims: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been recognized as a majo r cause of liver disease, but little is known about its diffusion at p opulation level. To estimate the prevalence and incidence of HCV infec tion and to explore potential risk factors at population level, an epi demiologic study was carried out. Methods: A cohort was built up in 19 85, on a random sample of the population of Castellana, a small town i n southern Italy (Bari province), and followed up until 1993. HCV ELIS A II and RIBA HCV 2.0 were used as screening and confirmatory tests, r espectively Results: The overall anti-HCV prevalence was 26.0% (511/19 69) at enrollment. The HCV infection incidence rate nas 34.2x100000 pe rson-years (3 cases/8766 persons-years). A secular trend (referent bor n before 1930; born 1930-39 Odds Ratio (OR) 0.72, 95% Confidence Inter val (95% CI) 0.56-0.91; born L1940-49, OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.25-0.44; born 1950 or after, OR 0.15, 95% CI 0.09-0.23) and geographical pattern (r eferent born outside Bari province; born in Bari province, OR 1.71, 95 % CI 0.93-3.16; born in Castellana G, OR 2.29, 95% CI 1.29-4.05) were found ba logistic regression analysis after controlling for several co nfounding factors. Conclusions: The high prevalence, moderate incidenc e, and marked decrease in HCV infection in the cohort of birth in a po pulation without known risk factors suggest that an epidemiological tr ansition has been operating at population level since the 1950's.