A Case-Control Study of Risk Factors for Sporadic Hepatitis C Virus Infection in The Southwestern United States

Abstract

A history of sexually transmitted disease, heavy alcohol intake, the presence of tattoos, and a history of needlestick exposure were identified as risk factors for sporadic hepatitis C in this case-control study. If we include all patients with a history of blood transfusion or injection drug use, only 2% of the total 477 HCV patients had no identified risk factors.