Introduction: Epidemiology of HCV subtypes plays an increasing role in treatment decision making in the era of direct acting antivirals. Data on incidence of HCV subtypes in Poland are sparse and equivocal.
Aim of the study: The aim of this study was to assess the distribution of HCV subtypes basing on data collected in Lodzkie province in 2015.
Materials and methods: Patients with chronic hepatitis C were evaluated for antiviral treatment in one of the three infectious diseases departments in Lodzkie province in 2015 and had HCV genotype/subtype determined. The exclusion criteria were as follows: HBV and/or HIV coinfection and age under 18 years old.
Results: The study included 555 patients aged from 18 to 87 years. The rate of women was 52.8%, mean age was 47.4 years and treatment-experienced patients comprised 22.7% of study group. Genotypes 1, 3 and 4 were detected in 512 (92.25%), 34 (6.13%) and 7 (1.26%) patients, respectively. Subtype determination was performed in 464 patients infected with HCV genotype 1. The frequency of subtype 1a and 1b was 18.8% and 81%, respectively. Mean age in patients with HCV 1a infection was 28.6 years and was significantly lower than in patients infected with HCV 1b (52.5 years, p<0.05). A significant correlation between age and HCV subtype was observed.
Conclusions: Prevalence of subtype 1a in patients with chronic hepatitis C in Lodzkie province is high, moreover, this subtype dominates in population of young adults (18-29 years).