Abstract
Objective: To characterize the socioeconomic and health status, disease symptoms of anti- HCV-positive and negative transfusion recipients.
Methods: A cross-sectional interviewer-administered survey of subjects identified through the British Columbia Blood Recipient Program. Study subjects were 18 years and over and had to have had a transfusion between August 1, 1986 and June 30, 1990 and completed an interview of satisfactory quality. Anti-HCV-positive subjects were those seeking monetary compensation from the provincial and Canadian governments and the comparison group was randomly selected from a pool of anti-HCV-negative subjects. The study was designed to detect an assumed difference of 20% in signs and symptoms between the two groups. Statistical comparisons were conducted using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.
Results: A total of 241 and 222 anti-HCV-positive and negative subjects were respectively interviewed and met the study’s eligibility criteria. Results from the multivariate analysis indicated that anti-HCV-positive recipients were more likely to have two or more clinical symptoms (OR = 3.53; 95% CI: 1.44, 8.70), to be in worse health status as compared to ten years previous (OR = 1.60; 95% CI: 1.30, 1.96), to have a higher illness intrusiveness rating (OR = 1.35; 95% CI: 1.25, 1.46), and to be younger (OR = 0.97; 95% CI: 0.95, 0.98).
Conclusion: Our results show that persons exposed to HCV were more likely to have had two or more clinical symptoms, be male, have worse health status as compared to ten years previous, have a higher illness intrusiveness rating, and be younger in age.
Résumé
Objectif: Caractériser la situation socio-économique, l’état de santé et les symptômes de maladie de transfusés séropositifs et séronégatifs pour le VHC.
Méthode: Enquête transversale menée par entrevues avec des sujets identifiés grâce au British Columbia Blood Recipient Program. Les sujets de l’étude avaient 18 ans et plus et devaient recevoir une transfusion de sang entre le 1er août 1986 et le 30 juin 1990, et leur entrevue devait être de qualité satisfaisante. Les sujets séropositifs pour le VHC étaient des personnes ayant demandé une compensation monétaire des gouvernements provincial et fédéral canadiens; le groupe témoin était composé de transfusés séronégatifs pour le VHC sélectionnés au hasard. L’étude visait à détecter une différence hypothétique de 20 % dans la sémiologie et les symptômes des deux groupes. Des comparaisons statistiques ont été effectuées à l’aide d’analyses de régression logistique à deux ou plusieurs variables.
Résultats: En tout, 241 sujets séropositifs et 222 sujets séronégatifs pour le VHC répondaient aux critères de l’étude. Selon les résultats de l’analyse multivariable, les transfusés séropositifs pour le VHC étaient plus susceptibles de présenter deux symptômes cliniques ou plus (RC = 3,53; IC de 95 % = 1,44-8,70), d’être en moins bonne santé que 10 ans auparavant (RC = 1,60; IC de 95 % = 1,30-1,96), de présenter un plus haut taux de perturbation de la maladie (RC = 1,35; IC de 95 % = 1,25-1,46) et d’être plus jeunes (RC = 0,97; IC de 95 % = 0,95-0,98).
Conclusion: Nos résultats montrent que les personnes exposées au VHC étaient plus susceptibles de présenter deux symptômes cliniques ou plus, ainsi qu’un plus haut taux de perturbation de la maladie, d’être des hommes, d’être en moins bonne santé que 10 ans auparavant et d’être relativement jeunes.
Footnotes
Acknowledgements: This work was supported through financial support given by the Attorney General of Canada and by the National Health Research Development Programme of Health Canada through a National Health Research Scholar Award to Dr. Hogg and the Medical Research Council through a Senior Scientist Award to Dr. Schechter.
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