Hepatitis B and C virus prevalence and risk factors among hemodialysis patients in Al-Muthanna city, Iraq

The purpose of this study was to find out how common hepatitis B is and C viruses among patients undergoing hemodialysis in Al-Muthanna Governorate, as well as the duration of hemodialysis therapy and history of blood transfusions are risk factors for viral transmission among patients. This is the province’s first study of its kind. As a result of this, the study conducted from December 2022 to January 2023 in hemodialysis unit in Al-Hussein Teaching Hospital and Rumaitha General Hospital in al-muthanna city, 100 patients are included The majority of the patients ranged in age from 15 to 75 years old, with 65 males and 35 females (65%, 35%). Using ELISA, the results revealed that 10% of the patients’ serum was infected with HBV and the number of people infected with HCV was 36%. As the study indicated of hepatitis (HCV & HBV) in rural areas was higher than in urban residents. The findings revealed that the highest incidence( 60.86%) of hepatitis was for patients who were on dialysis for long periods (7-9 years). On the other hand, the highest rate of infection with hepatitis (69.56%) was for patients previously received a blood transfusion, These are considered risk factors that increase the chance of infection with hepatitis in hemodialysis patients.