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. 2023 Jan 12;23(1):89.
doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-14995-3.

Gender differences in risk exposures for acute hepatitis C infection in Taiwan: a nationwide case-control study

Hsin-I Huang  1 , Chia-Ping Su  2 , Wan-Ting Huang  2 , Wan-Chin Chen  3
Affiliations

Gender differences in risk exposures for acute hepatitis C infection in Taiwan: a nationwide case-control study

Hsin-I Huang et al. BMC Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: In Taiwan, medical providers are required to report all acute hepatitis C (AHC) patients to National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System (NNDSS). Identifying factors associated with AHC may inform the strategies to prevent the spread of hepatitis C virus (HCV). We used the national surveillance data to assess gender difference in risk factors associated with AHC in Taiwan and propose control measures in at-risk groups.

Methods: We conducted a nationwide case-control study using data from NNDSS and AHC case investigation questionnaires, for the period of March 6, 2014-December 31, 2016. Cases were AHC confirmed in NNDSS; controls were reported AHC with negative HCV nucleic acid test and negative serum anti-HCV antibody. We used bivariate analysis to identify characteristics and risk exposures for AHC and conducted gender stratified analyses.

Results: We identified 602 AHC cases (66.9% males, median age 48 years) and 90 controls. Older age, male gender (OR: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.18-2.90), history of viral hepatitis (OR: 7.93, 95% CI:1.91-32.88), history of sexually transmitted infections (OR: 21.02, 95% CI: 2.90-152.43), and having healthcare-associated risk exposures (OR: 2.02, 95% CI: 1.25-3.25) were associated with AHC. Stratified analyses showed receiving intravenous infusion, history of hepatitis B, syphilis, and human immunodeficiency virus infection were risk factors for male AHC; receiving hemodialysis was risk factor for females.

Conclusions: Our study demonstrates risk factors for AHC in Taiwan with gender difference. Proper infection control practices in healthcare settings and interventions targeting male patients with HIV and other STIs, remain crucial to prevent individuals from AHC.

Keywords: Gender difference; Healthcare-associated risk exposures; Hepatitis C.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow diagram of AHC cases and controls, Taiwan, March 6, 2014–December 31, 2016 Abbreviations: AHC: acute hepatitis C; HCV: hepatitis C virus; NAT, nucleic acid test
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Confirmed acute hepatitis C cases by age group and gender, Taiwan, March 2014–December 2016 (n = 602)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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