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 and2a. 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.