Prevalence and Risk Factors for Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Vulnerable Populations in Romania: A Population-based Screening from the LIVE(RO)2 Program

Anca Trifan; Laura Huiban; Mihaela Moscalu; Speranta Iacob; Cristina Maria Muzica; Ioana-Miruna Balmus; Ana-Maria Singeap; Irina Girleanu; Camelia Cojocariu; Sebastian Zenovia; Horia Minea; Robert Nastasa; Ermina Stratina; Remus Stafie; Adrian Rotaru; Stefan Chiriac; Tudor Cuciureanu; Elena Toader; Gabriela Balan; Andra-Iulia Suceveanu; Corina Silvia Pop; Florentina Furtunescu; Carol Stanciu; Liana Gheorghe

doi:10.15403/jgld-6533

Authors

Anca Trifan Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania
Laura Huiban Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania
Mihaela Moscalu Department of Preventive Medicine and Interdisciplinarity-Medical Informatics and Biostatistics, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi 700115, Romania
Speranta Iacob Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania; “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
Cristina Maria Muzica Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania
Ioana-Miruna Balmus Department of Exact Sciences and Natural Sciences, Institute of Interdisciplinary Research, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University, Iasi 700057, Romania; CENEMED Platform for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa”, 7000115, Iasi, Romania
Ana-Maria Singeap Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania
Irina Girleanu Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania
Camelia Cojocariu Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania
Sebastian Zenovia Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania
Horia Minea Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania
Robert Nastasa Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania
Ermina Stratina Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania
Remus Stafie Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania
Adrian Rotaru Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania
Stefan Chiriac Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania
Tudor Cuciureanu Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania
Elena Toader Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, St. Spiridon Emergency Hospital, Iasi, Romania; Faculty of Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania
Gabriela Balan Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Saint Andrei County Hospital, Galati 800578, Romania
Andra-Iulia Suceveanu Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Saint Andrei County Hospital, Constanta 900591, Romania
Corina Silvia Pop “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania; Department of Internal Medicine II and Gastroenterology, University Emergency Hospital, Bucharest, Romania
Florentina Furtunescu Department of Public Health and Management, National Institute of Public Health, Bucharest, Romania; “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
Carol Stanciu Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, St. Spiridon Emergency Hospital, Iasi, Romania; Faculty of Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania
Liana Gheorghe Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania; “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15403/jgld-6533

Keywords:

hepatitis C virus (HCV), vulnerable populations, screening, prevalence, risk factors, LIVE(RO)2 program

Abstract

Background and Aims: Viral hepatitis C remains one of the leading causes of virus-related morbidity and mortality worldwide, being the main etiological cause of cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma which transforms it into a global health problem. It investigated the prevalence and risk factors for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Romania.

Methods: This prospective study was conducted between 2021 and 2023 by an extensive national Romanian screening program LIVE(RO)2 of 320,000 participants, most of whom being a part of deemed vulnerable populations. All participants agreed to an informed written consent and potential risk factors for HCV transmission were investigated by questionnaire.

Results: Out of the 320,000 screened individuals, 3,859 were infected with HCV meaning 1.21% prevalence (95%CI: 1.17–1.24). HCV-infected individuals were meanly aged at 65.8 ± 12.93 years, significantly higher as compared to non-infected participants (54.03 ± 16.41 years, p<0.0001). The main risk factors associated with HCV chronic infection included male gender, being aged between 30-49 or 60-69 years old, low level of education, being unvaccinated, unemployed, not married, with personal history of blood or blood products transfusion, hemodialysis, surgical interventions, tattooing, being in contact with family members with hepatitis, with hospitalizations, imprisoned, and performing unprotected sexual contacts or with partners diagnosed with sexually transmitted infectious diseases.

Conclusions: The prevalence of HCV infection in Romania is 1.21%. Additional to providing supplemental healthcare support to vulnerable populations, the current study contributes in Romania‘s national HCV elimination objectives.