Hepatitis C Virus infections trends in Italy, 1996-2006

How to Cite:pilarczyk M, Foksinska A, Smukalska E, Halota W, Pawłowska M. Hepatitis C Virus infections trends in Italy, 1996-2006. Hepat Mon. 2011;11(12):. doi: https://doi.org/10.5812/kowsar.1735143X.789

Abstract

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 180 million people, 3% of the world population, are infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). In Italy, the prevalence in the general population is reported to be greater than 5% and 9% among households of HCV-positive patients.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to estimate the trends of HCV infection in Italy in the period 1996-2006.
Materials and Methods: The formula ln (rate) = b × years was applied for logarithmic transformation of the incidence rates to obtain time trends of HCV infection, using the joinpoint regression program software version 3.3.1. Linear graphs representing trends and the annual percentage change (APC) were considered for each joinpoint. Time changes are expressed as expected annual percentage change (EAPC) with the respective 95% confidence intervals (CIs); significance levels of time trends are also reported. The null hypothesis was tested using a maximum of 3 changes in slope with an overall significance level of 0.05 divided by the number of joinpoints in the final model.
Results: Considering all age groups, the incidence rate decreased from 2.02 to 0.55 per 100,000. The joinpoint analysis showed a statistically significant decrease in the incidence rates of HCV infection. No joinpoints were found in any age groups. Our data show that the incidence rates of HCV infections have considerably decreased in each age group throughout the studied period (1996-2006).
Conclusions: This decreasing trend in HCV infections is, in part, attributable to behavioral and social changes. Improved hygiene, use of precautions in medical settings, blood screening, and sexual educational campaigns seem to have contributed to reduce the transmission of infection during the last 10 years.

Keywords

Fulltext

Full text is available in PDF

Import into EndNote Import into BibTex

Crossmark

Checking

Share on

Comments

Number of Comments:0

Cited by

Scopus by DOI: 10
Last Update: 1 month ago
Scopus by Title: 23
Last Update: 1 month ago
Scopus by Title (Ref): 0
Last Update: 1 month ago
CrossRef: 1
Last Update: 6 days ago

Metrics

Licensing and reuse information

Ordering Reprints

Articles are published under the Creative Commons license stated on each article. No permission or royalty fee is required for uses permitted by that license. CCC handles optional bulk and customized reprint orders. Any quotation covers production and delivery services only, not copyright permission. > Request Reprints from CCC

Search Relations

Author(s):

Malgorzata pilarczyk:[PubMed][Scholar]
Anna Foksinska:[PubMed][Scholar]
ewa Smukalska:[PubMed][Scholar]
Waldemar Halota:[PubMed][Scholar]
Małgorzata Pawłowska:[PubMed][Scholar]

Official Journal of Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases

Outlines

Hepatitis C Virus infections trends in Italy, 1996-2006

Abstract

Fulltext

Crossmark

Checking

Last Update: 1 month ago

Last Update: 1 month ago

Last Update: 1 month ago

Last Update: 6 days ago