Epidemiological Shift in Hepatitis C Genotypes in Northern Anatolia

Abstract

Objectives: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is an important public health issue with large genetic diversity. Although treatment differences for genotypes have vanished with the discovery of novel drugs, genotyping enables the prediction of clinical outcomes and prevents the spread of HCV in the community by identifying risk factors. The aim of this study was to assess the genotypic changes of HCV in Northern Anatolia, Amasya, Turkey. Materials and Methods: A total of 180 HCV-positive patients were included in the study between 2015 and 2022. HCV genotypes were investigated using real time polymerase chain reaction. Demographic data were obtained from medical records. Results: There was a decrease in the overall incidence of HCV after 2016. A decrease in genotypes 1 and 1b and an increase in genotype 3 were recorded over time. The only patient with genotype 4 detected in 2016 was an immigrant from Syria. The mean age of patients with genotype 1 was 55.95 and genotype 3 was 28.75. There were slightly more male patients in the genotype 3 group and more female patients in the genotype 1. After a year of treatment with the new regimens, all of the patients achieved viral clearance except two. Conclusion: Despite genotype 1b's continued dominance, our research showed that there was a shift in the distribution and frequency of HCV in our region, primarily due to emigration. The new treatment regimens decreased the number of patients and improved treatment success.