Prevalence and distribution of hepatitis C among high-risk populations in Pudong New Area, Shanghai City / 中华传染病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the prevalence of positive hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody, HCV RNA and genotype distribution of HCV in high-risk populations in Pudong New Area, Shanghai City, so that to provide evidence for making "hepatitis C micro elimination" strategies in Shanghai area.Methods:A survey with proportional sampling method was conducted among the high-risk populations, including people who inject drugs (PWID), voluntarily or compulsorily accepted drug detoxification or methadone treatment, human immunodeficiency virus voluntary counseling and testing (HIV VCT) outpatients, sexually transmitted disease (STD) outpatients, and commercial sex workers, who participated in the routine physical examination activities held by the community health service centers and public hospitals of Pudong New Area from July 2021 to November 2022. The residual plasma samples were collected from medical examinations. HCV antibody was tested in all samples. HCV RNA and HCV genotype were tested in samples with positive HCV antibody results.Results:A total of 1 000 HCV high-risk people were screened, including 453 PWID, 166 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infectors, 245 STD outpatients, and 136 commercial sex workers. The positive rates of HCV antibody in the four categories of personnel were 21.85%(99/453), 1.81%(3/166), 1.22%(3/245) and 0(0/136), respectively. The positive rate of HCV RNA was 42.68%(35/82) among HCV antibody positive people in high-risk populations. As much as 74.29%(26/35) of HCV RNA positive people had junior high school education or less, and 77.14%(27/35) of them were not married. Among the 12 samples tested for HCV genotype, five were genotype 3, five were genotype 6, and two were subtype 1b.Conclusions:PWID is the main high-risk HCV infection population, who should be the target of the following "hepatitis C micro elimination" strategies. The proportions of genotype 3 and genotype 6 are high in the high-risk HCV infection populations, and the pan-genotype direct-acting antiviral agent treatment may be more suitable in this situation. HCV infected persons in high-risk groups have low education level and marriage rate, which indicates that education and care in community are needed.