Numerous publications present anti-HCV prevalence in particular groups: blood or plasma donors, hemodialyzed and post-transfusion subjects, intravenous drug users, subjects with high-risk behaviour, health care workers, and patients with liver diseases. Among these groups only data from studies of blood donor volunteers can more or less be treated as a reflection of anti-HCV prevalence in the general population. Such studies were conducted in many European countries shortly after HCV discovery [¹–¹⁷]. Taking into account risk groups, blood donors’ studies gave a picture of anti-HCV prevalence and routes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) spread in various parts of Europe. A systematic review by Esteban et al summarized those data up to 2007 [¹⁸]. According to this comprehensive review, in general European population the lowest anti-HCV prevalence occurs in Northern (0.1–1.0%) and Central Europe (0.2–1.2%). In Southern Europe and Spain anti-HCV prevalence is 2.5–3.5%. The authors stressed that up to now there were no sufficient data about anti-HCV prevalence in Eastern Europe. Naoumov (1999) reviewed and summarized data from Eastern European studies of blood donors, medical personnel and hemodialysed patients [¹⁹]. It was ascertained with reference to blood donor studies that the Eastern European population has a high prevalence of HCV infection – from 0.68% in Czech Republic to 4.9% in Romania. Later publications from this European region have confirmed this conclusion, but there are still no population-based studies published from Eastern European countries [²⁰–²²].

Prevalence of HCV infection in Lithuania has been studied in small groups of first-time blood donors, acute viral hepatitis patients and in risk groups (2.2% in first-time blood donors, 7.9% in commercial donors, 13.9% in commercial plasma donors, 48.3% in hemodialysed patients, 29.4% in prisoners, 9.4% in elderly nursing home residents, and 7.9% in hemodialysis staff) [²³,²⁴]. These data did not provide a clear picture of anti-HCV prevalence in the general population, but it allowed estimation of prevalence at from 2% to 3%.

We present a descriptive epidemiological study, prepared according to CONSORT [²⁵] and STROBE [²⁶,²⁷] recommendations, aimed at assessing age-specific risk factors for HCV acquisition and prevalence of anti-HCV in the general population of Lithuania.

Based on the results of this study we estimate that the anti-HCV prevalence in Lithuania is 2.78%, and adjusted to the standard European population the anti-HCV rate is 2.85%. This rate is a bit higher then was expected. Perhaps the free anonymous testing provided by our study was more attractive for people possibly having exposure to HCV (eg, intravenous drug use, having a family member with HCV infection) than for those without such risks.

Our estimated anti-HCV prevalence is similar to that in Russia, but it is higher than in Poland, Estonia and Latvia [¹⁸]. However, the conclusion related to anti-HCV prevalence in Eastern European countries was based on studies of blood donors, as in case of Poland [²²,³⁰], or on the basis of personally communicated data, as in case of the Baltic states [¹⁹].

We could not find a single observational study presenting anti-HCV prevalence in the general populations of Estonia, Latvia, Poland or in other neighbouring countries (Russia, Byelorussia or Ukraine). In Lithuania blood donors, some small risk groups and chronic hepatitis C patients were investigated [²³,³¹–³⁴]. Similar data are obtainable in Latvia and Estonia [³⁵–³⁹].

The data on anti-HCV prevalence from a large cohort of 4216 healthy people from various regions of Russia and Mongolia were presented in 1996 [⁴⁰]. According to this study, anti-HCV prevalence in those regions varied from 0.7% in Central Russia to 10.7% in Mongolia. There is no current data about HCV infection spread in Russia including the Kaliningrad region where an explosion of intravenous drug abuse was observed during the last decade. Namely this Russian region has a common border with Lithuania.

A study of northern Ukrainian schoolchildren and blood donors found a 0.8% anti-HCV prevalence for schoolchildren and 2.3% for blood donors; anti-HCV prevalence directly correlated with the age – people ages 40–49 years had 4.0% positivity, while those older than 60 years had 6.25% [⁴¹]. Those data were published in 1993 and do not reflect the present situation of HCV infection in Ukraine. In addition, the correlation of anti-HCV prevalence with age was not reported anywhere in the literature, nor did we find such correlation in our cohort.

In Byelorussia, 1.26% anti-HCV prevalence was reported without reference to the source [²¹].

On the basis of the above-mentioned publications, Esteban and co-authors presented anti-HCV prevalence in Eastern Europe (Figure 1 in review) [¹⁸]. However, these data are not sufficient to provide a true picture of anti-HCV prevalence or the number of HCV carriers in this region. Those authors presumed that anti-HCV prevalence could be higher not only in Eastern Europe, but also in the general European population because there are not sufficient current data [¹⁸]. Epidemiological studies of the general population would be useful in order to clarify the situation of HCV infection in Europe in light of increasing intravenous drug abuse.

According to the obtained data, the main HCV infection route in Lithuania is currently intravenous drug use (OR=42.5). In our country about 80% of intravenous drug users are infected with HCV and men more often than women engage in this behavior [⁴²]. This could explain the higher rate of anti-HCV positivity found in men of our cohort. Intravenous drugs are more accessible in cities (especially in the capital); accordingly, we found lower anti-HCV prevalence in rural regions.

Observations and data of other investigators taken together reinforce the fact that intravenous drug use is now the principal route of HCV spread in the European population [¹⁸,³³].

Former nosocomial routes such as blood donations, surgeries, and hemodialysis seem to be well controlled in our country. Nevertheless, blood transfusion can still be a source of HCV (OR=6.4). In Lithuania every donor’s blood has been tested for anti-HCV since 1994 and since 2004 for HCV RNA. Sufficient HCV RNA quantity for detection appears only after 4–5 days of HCV infection. HCV RNA is tested separately in every donation, not in pools, and NAT sensitivity is 3.01 IU/ml. Still, there exists a possibility for HCV transmission with blood or its products. Safety of donor’s blood is still a worldwide health care problem which could be partially solved by introducing more sensitive NAT methods. However, it will not be solved completely, especially in the case of paid donations [³¹,³²,⁴³].

Tooth removal was also confirmed as an HCV transmission route in our population. The possibility of HCV transmission through saliva is questionable, but it cannot be ruled out. Taking into consideration the HCV RNA presence in saliva of 35–55% of chronic hepatitis C patients, there is a possibility to transmit HCV to dentists and others [⁴⁴–⁴⁹].

Childbirth, being a risk factor for HCV acquisition, was an unexpected finding for us. This HCV infection route was not investigated. Anti-HCV prevalence among pregnant women and mother-to-child HCV transmission have been discussed in the literature [⁵⁰–⁵⁴]. The number of anti-HCV-positive women in our cohort was only 14 and only 10 answered the question about childbirth – 7 (70%) had children – and 171 anti-HCV-negative women, answered a question about childbirth – 54 (32%) had children. So, the small group of anti-HCV-positive women in our cohort may indicate why childbirth became statistically significant as an HCV risk factor. We failed to find a single study of anti-HCV prevalence in women before and after childbirth. Such a study would be useful to confirm or deny our controversial finding and clarify a possible source of HCV infection if this exists in the maternity clinic.

Confirming that multiple and long-term hospitalization is an HCV risk factor raises the question of the specific route of transmission in hospitals [⁵⁵]. The possible infection source can be asymptomatic HCV carriers who are admitted for surgery or conservative treatment, for example, heart disease, and they are not tested for HCV by diagnostic algorithm. A health care worker infected with HCV but not diagnosed can also be a source of infection [⁵⁶–⁶⁰].

There were only 2 patients in the study cohort who underwent hemodialysis: 1 was anti-HCV positive and the other one was not. Such limited data does not allow us to draw conclusions, but studies before 1995 indicated to a high prevalence of anti-HCV in hemodialyzed patients [²³].

It is necessary to pay attention to a new risk factor for HCV acquisition in our population – HCV infection among family members (OR=11.3). Nine people (5 anti-HCV-positive and 4 anti-HCV-negative) indicated presence of HCV infection in family members (usually it is sister or brother, but also it can be a spouse or parent); it confirmed a possibility of household and/or sexual HCV acquisition. However, risky sexual behaviour was not proved to be an HCV acquisition route. Still, intrafamilial HCV spread is not well elucidated, although it has been recorded and studied since the early 1990s. It was only recognized that family members of HCV-infected patients had a 3- to 5-fold higher prevalence of anti-HCV than the general population and are often infected with the same HCV strain [⁶¹–⁶⁴].

Open traumas with a big blinding area can be considered as a risk for HCV acquisition but its reasons are unclear (OR=3.7). Receiving a tattoo is a risk factor for HCV infection (OR=4.4), possibly because of violation of sanitary norms during the procedure.

Our previous study of chronic hepatitis C cohort [³³] found a changing trend in HCV transmission, from nosocomial to less controlled intravenous drug use or HCV infection in family member. HCV infection source depended on age of patients. We found that older patients often get HCV during surgeries or long-term and multiple hospitalizations, while younger ones get it through intravenous drug use and tattooing.

Considering the asymptomatic course of infection, a high HCV rate in intravenous drug users and existence of their “trusted networks”, a new peak of HCV infection can be expected in the near future [⁶⁵,⁶⁶]. This is important not only for Lithuania, but also for other European countries where intravenous drug use is becoming a core of the HCV epidemic [¹⁸].

HCV spread through intravenous drug use is not only a healthcare problem; it is a social problem as well. It cannot be resolved only with prevention or other healthcare tools, especially in the absence of effective immunization. Only a complex of coordinated means directed to intravenous drug use prevention, public education and preventive efforts can be effective in prevention of HCV spread.

In our population, anti-HCV prevalence is 2.78%; adjusted to the standard European population, prevalence is 2.85%. This rate is higher in Vilnius and Kaunas in comparison with other regions of Lithuania.

The anti-HCV prevalence does not depend on age.

The main HCV transmission route is intravenous drug use; intrafamilial transmission is significant as well.

Blood transfusions, tattooing, open trauma, tooth removal, uncertain nosocomial transmission during multiple and long-term hospitalizations and childbirth are also HCV infection routes.

Despite active prevention of nosocomial HCV transmission, the incidence of HCV infection does not decrease, due to virus spread in “trusted networks” of intravenous drug users.

Nowadays, HCV transmission control cannot be carried out without controlling intravenous drug use and active prevention educational tools.

fn8-medscimonit-18-3-ph28Source of support: This work was funded by Lithuanian Science and Studies Foundation and by UAB Roche Lietuva

fn9-medscimonit-18-3-ph28Conflict of interest

The authors who have taken part in this study declare that they do not have anything to disclose regarding funding or conflict of interest with respect to this manuscript.

The authors acknowledged Prof. Jolanta Dadoniene and Dr. Viktor Skorniakov for invaluable help in proper statistical analysis of the obtained data. The authors also express gratitude to the State Science and Study Foundation and UAB Roche Lietuva for financial support of this work.