The prevalence of hepatitis C virus in hemodialysis patients in Pakistan: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Sohail Akhtar, Jamal Abdul Nasir, Muhammad Usman, Aqsa Sarwar, Rizwana Majeed and Baki Billah

PLOS ONE, 2020, vol. 15, issue 5, 1-13

Abstract: Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the most common bloodborne viral infections reported in Pakistan. Frequent dialysis treatment of hemodialysis patients exposes them to a high risk of HCV infection. The main purpose of this paper is to quantify the prevalence of HCV in hemodialysis patients through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, Pakistani Journals Online and Web of Science to identify studies published between 1 January 1995 and 30 October 2019, reporting on the prevalence of HCV infection in hemodialysis patients. Meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model to obtain pooled estimates. A funnel plot was used in conjunction with Egger’s regression test for asymmetry and to assess publication bias. Meta-regression and subgroup analyses were used to identify potential sources of heterogeneity among the included studies. This review was registered on PROSPERO (registration number CRD42019159345). Results: Out of 248 potential studies, 19 studies involving 3446 hemodialysis patients were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of HCV in hemodialysis patients in Pakistan was 32.33% (95% CI: 25.73–39.30; I2 = 94.3%, p

Date: 2020
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pone00:0232931

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0232931

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