Ramit Mahajan1, Vandana Midha2, Omesh Goyal1, Varun Mehta1, Vikram Narang3, Kirandeep Kaur4, Arshdeep Singh1, Dharmatma Singh1, Rishu Bhanot2, Ajit Sood1. 1. Department of Gastroenterology, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India. 2. Department of Internal Medicine, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India. 3. Department of Pathology, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India. 4. Department of Pharmacology, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM: The epidemiology and clinical profile of hepatitis C virus (HCV) varies worldwide, and data from developing countries are sparse. The aim of the present study was to assess the clinical profile of HCV infection in a developing country in South-East Asia (India). METHODS: This observational study assessed patient demographics, viral characteristics, risk factors for virus acquisition, and disease characteristics in HCV patients diagnosed between January 2004 and December 2015. RESULTS: Of 8035 patients who were diagnosed with HCV infection, a majority were men (68.3%), middle aged (52.2%), and from low (34%) to middle (46%) socioeconomic status and rural population (69.8%). Eighty-two percent had identifiable risk factors, the most common being history of dental treatment (52%) and therapeutic injections with reusable syringes/needles (45%). Household contacts of index patients had high prevalence of HCV (15.3%). Common genotypes were genotype 3 (70.4%) and genotype 1 (19.3%). Although a majority of patients were either asymptomatic (54.8%) or had non-specific symptoms (6.7%) at presentation, a significant proportion (9.3%) had advanced liver disease. Presentation with cirrhosis (38.8%) was associated with male gender, higher age at time of virus detection, rural residence, alcohol or opium intake, and coinfections with hepatitis B virus or human immunodeficiency virus. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatitis C virus infection in northern India is seen more commonly in men, the middle aged and people from rural background and low to middle socioeconomic status. The common possible risk factors are dental treatment and exposure to reused syringes and needles. Although the most common presentation is incidental detection, a large number of patients present with advanced liver disease.
BACKGROUND AND AIM: The epidemiology and clinical profile of hepatitis C virus (HCV) varies worldwide, and data from developing countries are sparse. The aim of the present study was to assess the clinical profile of HCV infection in a developing country in South-East Asia (India). METHODS: This observational study assessed patient demographics, viral characteristics, risk factors for virus acquisition, and disease characteristics in HCVpatients diagnosed between January 2004 and December 2015. RESULTS: Of 8035 patients who were diagnosed with HCV infection, a majority were men (68.3%), middle aged (52.2%), and from low (34%) to middle (46%) socioeconomic status and rural population (69.8%). Eighty-two percent had identifiable risk factors, the most common being history of dental treatment (52%) and therapeutic injections with reusable syringes/needles (45%). Household contacts of index patients had high prevalence of HCV (15.3%). Common genotypes were genotype 3 (70.4%) and genotype 1 (19.3%). Although a majority of patients were either asymptomatic (54.8%) or had non-specific symptoms (6.7%) at presentation, a significant proportion (9.3%) had advanced liver disease. Presentation with cirrhosis (38.8%) was associated with male gender, higher age at time of virus detection, rural residence, alcohol or opium intake, and coinfections with hepatitis B virus or human immunodeficiency virus. CONCLUSIONS:Hepatitis C virus infection in northern India is seen more commonly in men, the middle aged and people from rural background and low to middle socioeconomic status. The common possible risk factors are dental treatment and exposure to reused syringes and needles. Although the most common presentation is incidental detection, a large number of patients present with advanced liver disease.
Authors: Phimpha Paboriboune; Thomas Vial; Philavanh Sitbounlang; Stéphane Bertani; Christian Trépo; Paul Dény; Francois-Xavier Babin; Nicolas Steenkeste; Pascal Pineau; Eric Deharo Journal: Virol Sin Date: 2018-06-13 Impact factor: 4.327
Authors: Ajit Sood; A Suryaprasad; A Trickey; S Kanchi; V Midha; M A Foster; E Bennett; S Kamili; F Alvarez-Bognar; S Shadaker; V Surlikar; R Garg; P Mittal; S Sharma; M T May; P Vickerman; F Averhoff Journal: PLoS One Date: 2018-07-26 Impact factor: 3.240