Author:
Judith C. Brillman MD Am J Emerg Med 2002
|
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
Date Posted: Mon, September 09 2002, 20:11:29 PDT
In reply to:
Anna Lok, MD Thomas Shehab MD Mauricio Orrego, M.D. UMich
's message, "Doctors/Patients Not Following Through on Hepatitis C Screening" on Mon, July 30 2001, 8:16:52 PDT
Researchers from the USA have discovered that 17% of patients who presented
to an emergency department in Albuquerque, New Mexico, were infected with
hepatitis C virus.
The findings of the study were published in the September issue of the
American Journal of Emergency Medicine.
The team measured the prevalence of and identified risk factors associated
with hepatitis C virus (HCV) in emergency department (ED) patients.
Adults presenting to an urban university teaching hospital, in Albuquerque,
New Mexico, were included in the study.
The patients were having blood drawn as part of their routine evaluation,
and had an extra tube drawn and tested for HCV.
English-speaking adults, consenting to participate in the survey portion of
the study, were administered an in-depth risk factor questionnaire.
A case-control analysis was used to identify risk factors in HCV-positive
compared with HCV-negative individuals.
History of injection drug use dramatically increased risk of HCV infection.
American Journal of Emergency Medicine
The researchers found that, of 223 blood samples, 17% were positive for
antibodies for HCV.
Some 121 patients agreed to the risk factor survey, 18 (15%) of whom were
HCV-positive.
Of the 18 HCV-positive survey participants, 12 new diagnoses of HCV were made.
It was discovered that a history of injection drug use was the most
significant risk factor associated with HCV (OR 859).
Dr Judith C. Brillman, of the Department of Emergency Medicine, University
of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, said on behalf of her
colleagues, "A high prevalence of HCV is found in selected urban ED patients."
"Most of these patients have a constellation of risk factors including a
history of injection drug use," she added.
"Efforts to identify at risk patients for serologic testing and follow-up
should be initiated.
"Identifying undiagnosed HCV can lead to interventions to decrease
transmission, as well as reduce the morbidity and mortality of disease,"
she concluded.
; 20: 476-80
10 September 2002
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
|
