Changing Epidemiology of Chronic Hepatitis C: A University Hospital Experience

AuthorSüheyla Kömüren
AuthorBehice Kurtaranen
AuthorYusuf Kemal Arslanen
AuthorFerit Kuscuen
AuthorSezin Hoşgel Sevdimbaşen
AuthorSeza Ayse Inalen
AuthorAslıhan Candeviren
AuthorYesim Tasovaen
OrcidSüheyla Kömür [0000-0003-2414-559X]en
OrcidBehice Kurtaran [0000-0002-2081-4664]en
OrcidFerit Kuscu [0000-0001-5662-8305]en
OrcidSeza Ayse Inal [0000-0002-1182-7164]en
OrcidAslıhan Candevir [0000-0001-9340-516X]en
Issued Date2024-12-31en
AbstractBackground: 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). 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.en
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.5812/hepatmon-148127en
KeywordHepatitis Cen
KeywordEpidemiologyen
KeywordIntravenous Drug Usersen
KeywordModes of Transmissionen
PublisherBrieflandsen
TitleChanging Epidemiology of Chronic Hepatitis C: A University Hospital Experienceen
TypeResearch Articleen

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