Risk factors associated with hepatitis C virus infection in Taiwanese government employees

This study evaluated the roles of multiple factors in hepatitis C virus (HC V) infection, with emphasis on the modification of various individual chara cteristics on the risk associated with percutaneous exposure to blood. Seru m samples taken from 4869 men in Taiwan within a cohort study were tested f or HCV antibody. the overall positive rate of anti-HCV was 1.6 %. In a logi stic regression, factors positively associated with anti-HCV positivity wer e previous blood transfusion (odds ratio [OR] = 7.28, 95% confidence interv al [CI] = 4.26-12.45), a history of surgery (OR = 2.06; 95 % CI = 1.23-3.46 ), and lower educational levels (OR = 1.94; 95% CI = 1.14-3.32). The anti-H CV positive rate was significantly lower in hepatitis B surface antigen (HB sAg) carriers than in non-carriers (OR = 0.60; 95% CI = 0.37-0.95). Ageing, lower educational levels, O blood group, and Taiwanese ethnicity enhanced the likelihood of HCV infection through blood transfusion/surgery, whereas HBsAg status, cigarette smoking, and habitual alcohol drinking reduced it.