Epidemiology of hepatitis C in the Moscow Region: data from the Moscow Regional Registry and screening for HCV antibodies

Background: Epidemiological characteristics of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection presented in the literature are not representative for the real situation with its incidence and prevalence in the Russian Federation. In the Moscow Region, which is the second largest population in the Russian Federation (7.2 million people), the Moscow Regional Registry of patients with hepatic disorders has been continuously maintained since 2010, as well as screening programs for anti-HCV positive individuals. Analysis of this data allows for generalization of the results obtain to the general population and for description of the prevalence of the infection among adult population of the Russian Federation. Aim: To analyze the epidemiological situation with chronic hepatitis C in the Moscow Region. Materials and methods: We analyzed data from the Moscow Regional Registry of patients with hepatic disorders as per April 2016, as well as the results of large scale screening of the population of the Moscow Region with oral express test for anti-HCV antibodies (OraQuick HСV Rapid Antibody Test). Based on the registry, we assessed the following parameters of the patient cohort with chronic HCV infection (n = 17 182): age, gender, HCV genotype, grade of liver fibrosis, allele variants of interleukin 28В. Within the large scale screening program among the population of the Moscow Region, 1447 individuals from 6 districts of the region were screened for anti-HCV antibodies. Results: As per April 2016, the proportion of patients with chronic viral hepatitis in the Registry was 75.3% (n = 12 938 of 17 182). The vast majority of them (80.3%, or n = 10 393) had chronic hepatitis C, with 84% (n = 8726) of referrals were patients of productive age (from 20 to 50 years). 8.4% (n = 873) of all HCV infected patients had liver cirrhosis. Although the proportion of patients with cirrhosis was negligibly low (< 1.5%) in patients below 30 years of age, it was progressively increasing with age, with a maximum of 23.8% in those above their 50-es. As far as the HCV genotype distribution is concerned, it was as follows: genotype 1, 54.1% (n = 5622) of patients, genotype 2, 7.2% (n = 747), genotype 3, 38.4% (n = 3990). According to the results of assessment of IL28B genetic polymorphisms (n = 3212), СС rs12979860, which is associated with the most favorable sensitivity to interferon α, was found in 27.5% (n = 883), СТ allele, in 58.4% (n = 1876), and ТТ in 14,1% (n = 453). Prevalence of HCV