Prevalence of hepatitis C infection in a population of asymptomatic people in a checkup unit in Mexico City

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has an estimated prevalence of 3% around the world. Unfortunately, many persons with HCV infection are asymptomatic. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hepatitis C Virus infection in asymptomatic persons. This study was carried out in a population-based cross-sectional study in the Checkup Unit of University Hospital in Mexico City. Patients with two or more HCV risk factors were studied. Serum specimens from all patients were screened for HCV RNA by qualitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). HCV RNA-positive serum was also screened by quantitative PCR and for HCV genotype. Three hundred asymptomatic people were included, 194 men and 106 women, with a mean age of 46.8 +/- 11.9. Six (2%) of the 300 people were positive and viremic. The most common risk factors in positive patients were manicures or pedicures with a nonpersonal instrument and more than three sexual partners. We concluded that hepatitis C is frequent in asymptomatic people, and those people are often viremic. In addition, this study suggests that the spectrum of liver disease in asymptomatic and newly diagnosed HCV-positive persons is broad.