Seroprevalence, Demographic Risk Factors and Trends in Hepatitis C Virus Infection Among Individuals in Luanda, Angola

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a major public health concern in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where epidemiological data are limited, particularly in countries such as Angola. Herein, we estimated the seroprevalence of HCV infection and demographic risk factors in a large urban population in Luanda, the capital city of Angola. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study conducted with clinical records from 5,399 individuals screened for anti-HCV antibodies between 2020 and 2024 at the MEDIAG Laboratory, a private healthcare facility in Luanda, Angola. Results: Overall, 1.1% of participants were anti-HCV reactive. The mean age of HCV-positive individuals was significantly higher than non-reactive participants (47.5±15.7 vs. 37.3±12.5 years, p<0.001). Individuals aged over 40 years had a fourfold higher prevalence (2.1%) compared to those under 40 (0.5–0.6%). Men had a higher prevalence than females (1.4% vs. 0.9%) and a higher risk of infection (OR: 1.65, p=0.068). From 2020 to 2024, the prevalence of HCV cases increased (0.9% to 1.1%, p=0.984). HCV cases increased in the groups under 20 years (0% to 5.9%), 20 - 30 years (12.5% ​​to 23.5%) and over 40 years (50% to 64.7%), but decreased in the group 31 - 40 years (37.5% to 5.9%). Also, HCV cases decrease in females (75% to 47.1%) and an increase in men (25% to 52.9%). Conclusion: We observed a higher prevalence of HCV among older adults over 40 years and males over the past 5 years (2020 - 2024) in the urban population of Luanda, Angola. Our findings highlight the need for targeted screening strategies focused on high-risk groups and improved surveillance to support HCV elimination goals in Angola.