Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus among Patients with Arthralgia: Is It Logic for Screening?

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is associated with multiple extrahepatic manifestations such as arthralgia, myalgia, arthritis, and vasculitis. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of HCV among patients with chronic unexplained arthralgia to support early detection and treatment of silent infection. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted from July 2020 to May 2022 and included 145 individuals with chronic unexplained arthralgia. Most had oligoarticular joint pain (110, 75.9%); 103 (71%) were female and 42 (29%) were male. Serum samples were examined for anti-HCV antibodies using a rapid immunochromatographic assay, and seropositive samples were tested by polymerase chain reaction for HCV RNA. Results: Seven patients were anti-HCV positive, giving a seroprevalence of 4.8%, while five were HCV-RNA positive, giving a molecular prevalence of 3.4%. All positive patients were male (11.9%), with high statistical significance (χ² = 12.7, p = 0.002). HCV infection was not associated with age, blood transfusion, surgery, use of personal shaving tools, or being a healthcare worker. Conclusions: HCV prevalence was high among males with arthralgia. HCV screening is recommended for patients with arthralgia, especially males.