Age-specific frequency of screen-detected hepatitis C virus seropositivity in men from the Punjab province of Pakistan

Pakistan is a South Asian country with a high population seroprevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus (antiHCV) antibody. In administrative districts of its most populous province, Punjab, the frequency of seropositivity for HCV in different age groups of adult men, the usual bread winners for their families, is not known. This study describes the frequency and age-distribution of seropositivity for anti-HCV antibodies in 58,680 clinically healthy, adult men, from nine districts of the Punjab province in Pakistan, undergoing pre-employment health screening. Laboratory records belonging to these men, screened by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay 3 for antiHCV antibodies in serum, were analysed and frequencies were calculated. A total of 4034 (6.9%) were seropositive for HCV. The highest frequency of HCV seropositivity was noted in men from Multan (9.6%), followed by Lahore (9.4%) district. The lowest (5.0%) was noted among men residing in Bahawalpur district. There was a progressive increase in seroprevalence with increasing age in men from all districts. Further research needs to be initiated to describe differential HCV risk factor distribution in various districts and sustainability of relatively low seroprevalence noted in younger men.