Prevalence and Genotype Distribution of Hepatitis C Virus Infection at Zonal hospital in Northern India

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major public health concern. Persons living with HCV infection are at risk of developing liver cirrhosis and progressing to end-stage liver disease and liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma). The present study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of HCV infection in patients admitted as well as outpatient department services of a Zonal Hospital. The present study was cross-sectional, observational study, conducted in patients >18 years of age, clinically suspected acute infectious hepatitis or admitted to the intensive care unit, and willing to participate in the study. In the present study, 472 patients were studied for hepatitis C infection. Majority of cases were from 51 to 60 years age group (34.5%), followed by 61–70 years age group (26.7%). Female cases were (51.3%) slightly more than male (48.7%). Rapid method and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods detected HCV prevalence as 5.7% and 12.5%, respectively. After HCV genotype testing, the prevalence was 12.1%. Majority had 3A genotype (69.49%), followed by 1A genotype (16.95%), 1B genotype (8.47%), 3B genotype (3.39%), and 4 genotypes (1.69%). ELISA testing was significantly correlated with HCV genotype testing (P = 0.017) while the rapid method was not correlated with HCV genotype testing (P = 0.937). There is a high prevalence of HCV among the suspected, genotype 3 being the most common.