EXPLOSION OF HEPATITIS B AND C VIRUSES AMONG HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS AS A RESULT OF HEMODIALYSIS CRISIS IN YEMEN

Objective: The United Nations considers the situation in Yemen to be the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. In the midst of this, the fastest-spreading viral infection among HD patients was recorded. Therefore, this cohort study based in HD unit was conducted in Dhamar Hospital to estimate the outbreak of hepatitis B and C viruses among dialysis patients during the dialysis crisis in Yemen. Methods: All the patients who continuous go through hemodialysis from January 2018 to December 2018 and they were free from HBV/HCV infections at the start of the study (January 2018) were included. Patients who were discontinued from dialysis before the end of the year due to death or relocation were excluded from the study. Patients were tested for anti-HCV antibodies and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) at study start (January 2018) then at the end of the follow up (December 2018). The individual’s data were collected in a pre-designed questionnaire including; demographic data of HD frequency, and laboratory results. Results: The study included 202 patients, 20 (9.9%), 18 (8.9%) and 6 (2.97%) were found to be infected with HCV, HBV and CoHBV/HCV infection respectively. There was significant association between rise of HCV rate and younger patient age, and high frequency of dialysis. Conclusion: In conclusion, the prevalence of HBV and HCV infection and HBV/HCV infection in haemodialysis patients in our surroundings one year after HD was extremely common and lead to disaster for HD patients. This catastrophe is due to the lack or limited availability of materials and tools for dialysis and laboratory materials for virus tests due to the unfair siege on Yemen from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and the closure of Sana'a airport, which is the only entrance to medicines.