Viral hepatitis b and c among haemodialysis patients in the southern provinces of Iraq

Abstract EN

Objective: To estimate the prevalence and seroconversion rate of viral hepatitis B and C among hemodialysis (HD) patients in three southern provinces of Iraq, 2012.

Methods: A cross sectional study conducted in three HD units of the major hospitals in the three southern provinces in Iraq: Basra, Missan and Thiqar.

All patients with end stage renal disease on regular HD in the three HD units during the first six months of 2012 were included and their records were reviewed.

A questionnaire used to compile data on all the patients with ESRD attending the three HD unit and filled by the investigator through direct interview with the patients and the treating physicians.

Besides basic data the questionnaire included information on the patients’ status for hepatitis B and C depending on the lab reports, date of contracting the infection and the immunization status for hepatitis B.

Results: The total study group was 243, 57 (23.5%) had hepatitis infection.

This is classified as hepatitis B (13.2%), hepatitis C (4.1%) and combined B and C 6.2%.

A statistical significant association was found between having hepatitis infection and the educational status (p=0.01).

Among the positive cases (57 patients), 25 of them were seroconverted following HD, making the conversion rate of 11.8%.

The highest rate was in Basra (28.9%), while it was 0.0% in Missan.

This difference was statistically significant.

Around 36% were not vaccinated for hepatitis B.

This proportion was 72% in Basra, 9.4% in Missan and 6.2% in Thiqar.

The proportion of partial vaccination among the whole study group was 19.3%.

Conclusions: Around one quarter of patients are affected by hepatitis with the profound variation between the three provinces.

The highest prevalence was in Basra province.

Urgent need to follow the“universal precaution” to minimize nosocomial infection particularly at the HD units.