Update on the Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection Among Iranian General Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background One of the most important global public health concerns is chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, causing liver-related morbidity and mortality with a significant prevalence rate. Cirrhosis caused by hepatitis C is one of the most common causes of liver transplantation. Therefore, determining the prevalence of HCV infection and its geographical distribution is essential. Objectives The aim of this study was to estimate the point prevalence of HCV infection among Iranian general population. Methods Published studies reporting the prevalence of HCV infection in the Iranian general population were identified by a comprehensive literature search. Studies assessing and reporting HCV Ab positivity were evaluated in this review. Furthermore, an additional grey-literature search was performed to obtain other relevant studies. Results Twelve studies were eligible for inclusion in this review. The overall seroprevalence of HCV was 0.6% (95% CI: 0.4% to 0.8%). The seroprevalence of HCV infection varied considerably among different provinces ranging from 0.08% to 1.6%. Hormozgan province was reported to have the highest HCV Ab seropositivity rate while Mazandaran province had the lowest rate. The overall prevalence of actual viremia was 0.4% (range = 0.05 - 0.87), based on the results of five studies using PCR for confirmation of HCV diagnosis. Conclusions Our results demonstrated that the seroprevalence of HCV among Iranian general population is lower compared to other countries in the middle-east. However, the significant heterogeneity across included studies limits this conclusion. Therefore, to reduce the existing heterogeneity in the literature and strengthen the current evidence on the prevalence of HCV infection among Iranian general population, further high quality studies are required.