Epidemiological features and disease spectrum of hepatitis C in Qinghai Province, China: analysis of 110 cases

Objective To investigate the epidemiological features and disease spectrum of inpatients with hepatitis C in recent years and to provide reference for the control of hepatitis C. Methods A retrospective study of demography, epidemiology, and laboratory examination was performed in 110 hospitalized patients with hepatitis C. Results Of the 110 patients, 60 were male and 50 were female, with a male - to - female ratio of 1.2:1. The main transmission routes included blood product transfusion (33.6%), surgery (30.0%), intravenous drug use (14.5%), and sexual transmission (4.5%). The other 19 cases (17.4%) were of unknown transmission route. The annual numbers of cases from 2008 to 2011 were 16, 18, 32, and 44, respectively. The genotype proportions in patients were as follows: 1b, 60.7% (17/ 28); 2a, 28.6% (8/28); 1b/2a mixed type, 7.1% (2/28); 3b, 3.6% (1/28). Of all patients, 13.6% (15/110) were found with acute hepatitis C, 67.3% (74/110) with chronic hepatitis C, 19.1% (21/110) with liver cirrhosis, and 10.9% (12/110) with decompensated cirrhosis. Conclusion The incidence of HCV infection has been increasing year by year. The major HCV genotypes are 1b and 2a. Hepatitis C is apt to develop into liver cirrhosis. It is necessary to reinforce monitoring and to carry out specific epidemiological study among the target population.