RESUMO
This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and risk factors for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Mexican Americans living in South Texas. We tested plasma for the presence of HCV antibody from the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort (CCHC), a randomized, population-based cohort in an economically disadvantaged Mexican American community on the United States/Mexico border with high rates of chronic disease. A weighted prevalence of HCV antibody of 2·3% [n = 1131, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·2-3·4] was found. Participants with diabetes had low rates of HCV antibody (0·4%, 95% CI 0·0-0·9) and logistic regression revealed a statistically significant negative association between HCV and diabetes (OR 0·20, 95% CI 0·05-0·77) after adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical factors. This conflicts with reported positive associations of diabetes and HCV infection. No classic risk factors were identified, but important differences between genders emerged in analysis. This population-based study of HCV in Mexican Americans suggests that national studies do not adequately describe the epidemiology of HCV in this border community and that unique risk factors may be involved.
Assuntos
Coinfecção/epidemiologia , Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiologia , Hepacivirus/isolamento & purificação , Hepatite C/epidemiologia , Adulto , Coinfecção/etiologia , Estudos Transversais , Diabetes Mellitus/etiologia , Feminino , Hepatite C/virologia , Anticorpos Anti-Hepatite C/sangue , Humanos , Masculino , Americanos Mexicanos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Prevalência , Fatores de Risco , Texas/epidemiologiaRESUMO
A preliminary study indicated that erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme activities were enhanced in chronic hypoxaemic patients, in whom an increased oxidant stress could be present as a consequence of augmented haemoglobin autoxidation. We have now evaluated the behaviour of erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes and of their related trace metal serum levels in conditions of chronic hypobaric hypoxia in an Andean population living at high altitude (3800 m above sea level), and in a similar ethnic group living at sea level. The results indicate a significant reduction in erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity and a low serum level of selenium in the Andean population. Thus, in contrast to what happens in chronic hypoxaemic patients, this group of Andean subjects seems to be poorly protected against oxidant stress, probably as a consequence of selenium deficiency in the diet.