Seroepidemiological study of hepatitis C virus infection in the Hsin-Chu area, Taiwan

The aim of this study is to investigate the seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus infection among different populations in the Hsin-Chu area. From July 1994 to June 1996, a total of 890 serum samples, including 589 serum samples from HaKKa Chinese, 33 serum samples from MinNan Chinese and 286 serum samples from aborigines, were tested for anti-hepatitis C antibodies by means of a 2nd generation enzyme immunoassay. Results showed that the overall seropositive rate was 7.6%. The seropositive rate was 12.1% for the MinNan group, 8.0% for the HaKKa group and 6.3% for the aboriginal group (p > 0.05). The seropositive rate was 16.1% in the age group over 80 years old, 15.2% in the 70 to 79 year age group, 20.9% in the 60 to 69 year age group, 17.3% in the 50 to 59 year age group, 3.8% in the 40 to 49 year age group, 8.9% in the 30 to 39 year age group, 5.0% in the 20 to 29 year age group, 1.0% in the 10 to 19 year age group and 0.0% in the 0 to 9 year age group. There is a slight increase with age. No significant difference in seropositive rates was observed between males (7.4%) and females (8.0%) (p < 0.05). No significant difference in seropositive rates was observed in people living north or south of the You-Row river (p > 0.05). A review of the history of 66 seropositive persons revealed that the percentages of blood transfusion, frequent medical injections and hemodialysis were 65.2%, 43.9% and 6.1%, respectively.