Epidemiological characteristics and risk factors of hepatitis C virus genotype 1 infection: a national epidemiological survey of Chinese Han population

OBJECTIVE: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a high morbidity disease in China. The aim of this study was to explore the latest distribution of HCV genotypes in China, mainly focusing on epidemiological characteristics and risk factors of HCV genotype 1 in Chinese Han population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 793 HCV-positive patients were enrolled from 21 hospitals across China. The association of epidemiological data with HCV genotype 1 and the potential risk factors was analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The HCV genotype 1b was detected in 66.9% of 793 patients. The way of infection, disease course, HCV RNA level, history of blood transfusion and smoking were found to be significantly different between patients infected with HCV genotype 1 and non-genotype 1. The result of univariate logistic regression analysis showed that HCV genotype 1 infection has a close relationship with age, gender, smoking history, the way of infection, allergy, disease course, and HCV RNA level. Moreover, the HCV RNA level, disease course, and blood transfusion history were the related risk factors for infection of HCV genotype 1 as demonstrated by multivariate logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The HCV genotype 1 was still the main genotype of HCV infection in China. We should intensify HCV screening for those people who aged over 50 years and had a history of blood transfusion in China. The treatment of genotype 1 should be paid more attention in antiviral of HCV.