Age and Gender Distribution of Hepatitis C Virus Genotypes in the Metropolitan Area of Naples

Abstract

Objective: To assess any time-related variations in the distribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes in the metropolitan area of Naples, Italy. Methods: HCV genotypes were analysed in 255 HCV RNA-positive patients with chronic HCV infection, observed from 2009 to 2011, and compared with data pertaining to a sample of 176 HCV RNA-positive patients observed from 2006 to 2008. Results: In both periods of analysis, genotype 1b was predominant (51.8 and 48.3%, respectively), followed by genotype 2 (27.9 and 31.7%, respectively). These HCV genotypes were particularly prevalent in older patients, whereas genotypes 3a and 1a were observed more frequently in the younger population. Genotype 1b was particularly common in females compared to males in both study periods (39.3% of 89 males vs. 64.3% of 87 females in the 3-year period 2006-2008, p < 0.001; 41.5% of 118 males vs. 54.0% of 137 females in the period 2009-2011, p < 0.05). The prevalence of patients with genotype 1b in the age range 51-60 years was higher in the 2006-2008 period than in 2009-2011 (76.9 vs. 37.7%; p < 0.0005) and lower in the over 60 year olds (55.1 vs. 59.6%; p = 0.5). Conclusion: Genotype 1b, historically the most prevalent in Italy, is still predominant; however, when comparing the two time periods, a cohort effect evidencing the increasing prevalence of genotype 1b among elderly patients was revealed.

Distribution Pattern of Hepatitis C Virus Genotypes and Correlation with Viral Load and Risk Factors in Chronic Positive Patients

“…These data seem to confirm what we previously described observing that the prevalence of patients with genotypes 1b and 2 aged over 50 years was higher in the period 2006-2009 than 2009-2011 [49]. This finding appears to confirm the reduced risk of transfusion-related transmission over the years and in the meantime highlights the increasing role of no age-related risk factors in diffusion of HCV infection.…”

“…Our results clearly showed that genotype 1b, as we described previously [48,49], is historically the most prevalent throughout Italy and still remains so in our region (50.7%) followed by genotype 2a/2c (17.1%). These data seem to confirm what was observed by Rendina et al [50] in a group of 252 HCV-infected patients also living in Campania.…”

Distribution of Hepatitis C Virus Genotypes and Subtypes in the Metropolitan Area of Naples, Italy, in the Era of Interferon-Free Regimens

“…Genotype 1b, historically the most prevalent in this area and in the whole of Italy, remains the most common (55.3%), followed by genotype 2 (23.7%), prevalently subgenotype 2a/2c. In genotype 2 we encountered a subtyping rate that is not very high; these data reflect literature findings [21,22] and does not affect the goal of our work.…”

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) genotypes distribution among hepatocellular carcinoma patients in Southern Italy: a three year retrospective study

“…Although in our area, as we previously reported [37,38], genotype 1b is the most common subtype, our data show that its prevalence in HCC patients is significantly higher (67.9%) if compared to the control group (54.4%) (p < 0.001), suggesting that HCC patients have a risk to be infected by subtype 1b quite 2 times greater than patients without HCC. Although a minority of treated control group patients achieved SVR, in order to minimize the potential confounding effect of SVR, we adjusted the estimates for SVR achievement, and we also provided a separate multivariate analysis that excluded all patients who had achieved SVR.…”

“…As we previously described, genotype 1b, historically the most prevalent not only in Italy but in the whole of Europe, is the most common genotype also in Southern Italy, followed by genotype 2 [37,38].…”