One third of the world’s hepatitis C genotype 1 carriers reside in East Asia
In one of the largest prevalence studies to date, research indicates that genotype 1 is the most prevalent hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype worldwide, with over 83 million patients infected. The study also found that one third of the world’s HCV genotype 1 patients reside in East Asia. These results have been published in the journal Hepatology.
Despite efforts to control HCV, it remains one of the most prevalent diseases globally, with up to 150 million patients living with chronic infection, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Previous research shows that chronic HCV leads to liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or liver cancer, liver failure and death. WHO reports that 350,000 to 500,000 deaths each year are caused by liver diseases related to HCV.
“While the HCV infection rate is decreasing in developed countries, deaths from liver disease secondary to HCV will continue increasing over the next 20 years,” explains lead co-author Dr. Jane Messina from the University of Oxford in the U.K. “Understanding the global trends in the genetic makeup of HCV is the focus of our study and imperative in developing new treatment strategies that may save millions of lives around the world.”
Researchers identified 1,217 medical studies between 1989 (the year HCV was discovered) and 2013 that reported HCV genotypes. The data were then combined with HCV prevalence estimates from the WHO Global Burden of Disease project. Roughly 90 percent of the global population, representing 117 countries was included in this study.
Analysis shows that HCV genotype 1 is the most prevalent at 46 percent of all HCV cases, followed by genotype 3 at 30 percent; genotypes 2, 4, and 6 with a combined total of 23 percent and genotype 5 at less than 1 percent. Researchers highlight that genotypes 1 and 3 are most dominant regardless economic status, but found lower-income countries had larger concentrations of genotypes 4 and 5.
Corresponding author Dr. Eleanor Barnes from the University of Oxford adds: “The testing of new therapeutics is still dependent upon knowledge of viral genotype. Non-genotype 1 HCV, comprises more than half of all HCV cases. Our study provides evidence of genotype prevalence for specific countries and regions that will help improve access to new viral therapies to combat HCV.”
Source: Asian Scientist
Published: 04 Aug 2014
