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Risk factors for hepatitis C virus infection. A case-control study of blood donors in the Trent Region (UK)*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

K. R. Neal ,
D. A. Jones ,
D. Killey  and
V. James
K. R. Neal
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health Medicine and Epidemiology, University Hospital, Queen's Medical Centre, University of NottinghamNG7 2UH
D. A. Jones
Affiliation:
Trent Region Blood Transfusion Service, Longley Lane, Sheffield S5 7JN
D. Killey
Affiliation:
Trent Region Blood Transfusion Service, Longley Lane, Sheffield S5 7JN
V. James
Affiliation:
Trent Region Blood Transfusion Service, Longley Lane, Sheffield S5 7JN
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The introduction of screening for hepatitis C virus (HCV) by the National Blood Transfusion Service identified donors who had acquired HCV infection. We undertook a case-control study amongst blood donors in the Trent Region to determine risks for HCV infection. A total of 74 blood donors confirmed positive for hepatitis C infection and 150 age, sex and donor venue matched controls were included in the study. Fifty-three percent of hepatitis C infected blood donors reported previous use of injected drugs compared to no controls; relative risk (RR) not estimatable (lower limit 95% CI = 20). Other risk factors were a history of: receipt of a blood transfusion or blood products RR = 3·6 (95% CI 1·5–8·3), having been a ‘health care worker’ RR = 2·8 (95% CI 1·1–7·6), tattooing RR = 3·3 (95% CI 1·2–8·7), and an association with having been born abroad RR = 3·2 (95% CI 1·1–9·5). No risk was shown for a history of multiple sexual partners, ear piercing or acupuncture. Injecting drug use explains more than 50% of hepatitis C infections in blood donors, a group who are less likely to have injected drugs than the general population.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 112 , Issue 3 , June 1994 , pp. 595 - 601
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

References

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