Changing Epidemiology of Chronic Hepatitis C: A University Hospital Experience


KÖMÜR S., KURTARAN B., ARSLAN Y. K., KUŞCU F., Sevdimbaş S. H., Inal S. A., ...More

Hepatitis Monthly, vol.24, no.1, 2024 (SCI-Expanded) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 24 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2024
  • Doi Number: 10.5812/hepatmon-148127
  • Journal Name: Hepatitis Monthly
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, CAB Abstracts, CINAHL, EMBASE, Veterinary Science Database
  • Keywords: Epidemiology, Hepatitis C, Intravenous Drug Users, Modes of Transmission
  • Çukurova University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a significant public health problem worldwide, with varying epidemiological trends over time necessitating continual surveillance and intervention strategies. Objectives: This retrospective study aimed to examine trends in demographics, transmission routes, and disease characteristics among 635 patients diagnosed with HCV infection between 2003 and 2023. Methods: Data on demographics, HCV RNA levels, liver enzymes, genotype distribution, and transmission routes were retrospectively analyzed. The study period was divided into four segments for detailed analysis. Results: There was a gradual increase in the diagnosed cases over the study period, particularly noticeable after 2012. The mean age at diagnosis remained stable from 2003-2007 to 2008-2012 but decreased significantly in the following years (P = 0.001). Male predominance was observed throughout the study, with a notable increase in the male/female ratio over time (P <0.001). Intravenous drug use (IVDU) emerged as the predominant transmission route, reaching 68.3% in 2018-2022 (P <0.001). The prevalence of incarceration history among patients increased significantly, reaching 24.6% in 2018-2022 (P <0.001). Disease characteristics varied between periods; median HCV RNA levels were highest in 2018-2022, and median alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels differed significantly between periods (P = 0.001). The genotype distribution showed a shift over time, with genotype 1 predominating initially and genotypes 3, 4, and 5 becoming more prevalent in later years (P <0.001). Conclusions: This study highlights the dynamic changes in hepatitis C epidemiology over two decades in southern Turkey, highlighting the increasing burden in younger populations, the increasing prevalence of IVDU as a transmission route, and the changing genotype distribution.