Elsevier

Journal of Infection

Volume 45, Issue 4, November 2002, Pages 219-226
Journal of Infection

Regular Article
The Prevalence of Hepatitis C in England and Wales

https://doi.org/10.1053/jinf.2002.1059Get rights and content

Abstract

Objectives: To estimate the background population prevalence of hepatitis C in England and Wales, observe the prevalence over time and assess the extent of infection outside of known risk groups.

Methods:Sera from residual specimens from adult patients submitted to laboratories in England and Wales were tested for anti-HCV. Testing was carried out using a cost-effective pooling strategy.

Results: Although the prevalence of anti-HCV was highest in 1986 (1.07%), in the multivariable analysis, prevalence did not vary significantly between the 3 periods 1986, 1991 and 1996 (P=0.14). The prevalence of infection was higher in males than in females (P=0.0013). An age-period-cohort analysis revealed a cohort effect due to a lower HCV prevalence in the most recent birth cohorts, that is, those born between the calendar years 1971–1975 and 1976–1980.

Conclusions: The majority of HCV infections in England and Wales were probably acquired before 1986. Infections in younger males identified in 1996 may signify more recent acquisition by injecting drug use.

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    Please address all correspondence to: M. A. Balogun. Tel.: +44(0)2082006868; Fax: +44(0)2082007868; E-mail address:[email protected] (M. A. Balogun)

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