Changes in the epidemiological pattern of chronic B hepatitis amongst inmates in Catalonia: current prevalence and predictive variables.

Background: The epidemiology of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in Spain has changed due to migratory movements and the implementation of vaccination programs. The objective is to determine if prevalence has also changed amongst in Catalonia and the potential predictive variables of the infection.

Material And Method: Observational cross-sectional multi-centre study of CHB prevalence.

[Metabolic morbidity in the prison population of Catalonia, Spain].

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of metabolic morbidity (MM) amongst prison inmates.

Design: Multicentric, cross-sectional observational study.

Setting: All (nine) prisons in Catalonia.

Late diagnosis of HIV infection among prisoners.

HIV-risk populations are over-represented in prisons. It is very important to identify late HIV infection diagnosis in this setting from a public health perspective. The objectives of this study are to estimate the prevalence of late diagnosis and identify the predictive factors among inmates of two prisons in Barcelona from 2010 to 2012, and to review late diagnosis in other prisons.

[Predictors of adherence to treatment of chronic hepatitis C in drug-dependent inmate patients in four prisons in Barcelona, Spain].

Background: Drug addiction is not a contraindication to indicate treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC), but it has been observed that consumers are more abandon. To study the clinical outcome of hepatitis C treatment in inmate patients with a history in injecting drugs and to analyze which were the causes of abandon.

Methods: A multicenter retrospective clinical trial including 162 inmate patients that underwent HCV therapy with pegylated interpheron and ribavirin between January 2003 and January 2008 was performed.

[Expert recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection in the prison setting].

The prevalence of HCV infection in Spanish prisons is very high (38.5%). The characteristics of the infected patients, particularly the high rate of HIV coinfection, makes it very likely that the morbidity and mortality produced by serious liver disease secondary to this infection will increase considerably in the coming years.

[Expert recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection in the prison setting].

The prevalence of HCV infection in Spanish prisons is very high (38.5%). The characteristics of the infected patients, particularly the high rate of HIV coinfection, makes it very likely that the morbidity and mortality produced by serious liver disease secondary to this infection will increase considerably in the coming years.