Sero-Prevalence of Hepatitis B and C Viruses in Cirrhosis of the Liver in Accra, Ghana
Year: 2005
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Hepatic cirrhosis is the commonest liver disease causing death in Accra, Ghana. The roles of hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) virus infections in cirrhosis have not been well documented in Ghana. A nested case-control study was carried out to determine this and the role of blood transfusion in transmission of the two viruses. A total of 70 patients with cirrhosis diagnosed on combined clinical and ultrasonographic evidence and 280 controls with non-hepatic diseases were recruited for the study. HBsAg was detected in 30 out of the 70 cases, giving a prevalence rate of 42.9% compared to the rate of 7.5% (21 out of 280) among the controls. HBV infection was significantly associated with cirrhosis (χ(2) = 75.622, P = 0.000, C.I. = 28.6 – 42.156.08; OR=8.07, 95% CI=4.62 – 15.20). The risk of developing cirrhosis is 8-fold increased in patients with HBV infections than those without. The sero-prevalence of antibodies to HCV of 7.1% (5 out of 70) among cases was higher compared to the 3.6% (10 out of 280) in controls but there was no statistically significant difference between the two rates (χ(2) = 0.962, P = 0.327, C.I. = -1.42 – 5.70). Our results show that HBV infection and not HCV infection is a major risk factor for developing liver cirrhosis in Accra. There was statistically significant association between blood transfusion and HBV but not HCV infection.
Source: Europe PMC (PubMed Central)
Authors: Blankson, A, Wiredu, EK, Gyasi, RK, Adjei, A, Tettey, Y
Language: English
Topic: Hepatitis B Virus Studies
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W18895069