HAEMODIALYSIS;

AWARENESS AND CARE NEEDED TO PREVENT HEPATITIS C INFECTION IN HAEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS.

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis C is an important health issue in chronic kidney disease
patients especially those on regular hemodialysis. The cause of this high prevalence remains
multi-factorial. Despite of various infection control measures adopted worldwide, hepatitis c
high seroconversion rates among dialysis patients remain a major health concern. Objectives:
The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of seroconversion of hepatitis C in
patients on maintenance hemodialysis in our set-up and also to find the various risk factors
attributing to it. Study Design: Retrospective study. Place and duration of study: Hemodialysis
unit of LAHORE GENERAL HOSPITAL since August, 2016. Methods: Forty seven patients on
routine hemodialysis who were initially sero negative for hepatitis C at the time of registration
in Lahore general hospital dialysis centre and frequency of seroconversion to positive for anti
HCV was calculated using SPSS 20. The various variables were analyzed on basis of p-value
(significant <0.05). Results: Out of total 47 patients, 6 patients (12.80%) were found to be
sero converted to hepatitis C during the dialysis treatment in our centre. History of surgical
procedure (major/minor) (83.3%, p value:0.006) and presence of hepatitis C in spouse (66.7%,
p value :0.0001) were found to be statistically significant risk factors. Conclusion: The current
study indicates the high rates of hepatitis C seroconversion in hemodialysis patients and the
various contributing risk factors for it. Because of the immunodeficiency in these patients,
intense education to medical staff as well as patients themselves will be beneficial in controlling
the spread.