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Epidemiological Characteristics of Hepatitis C Patients Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital

Hari Prasad Kattel1, Sangita Sharma2, Kristian Alfsnes3

  • 1Central Department of Microbiology, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Journal of Nepal Health Research Council
|February 9, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Hepatitis C prevalence in Nepal is under 1%, but it disproportionately affects young, male intravenous drug users. Targeted awareness campaigns are crucial for controlling its spread in this demographic.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Hepatitis C infection poses a significant public health challenge in Nepal.
  • Understanding hepatitis C virus (HCV) epidemiology, including co-infections with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), is vital for effective control strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the sero-prevalence of HCV infections in Nepal.
  • To assess the proportions of HCV co-infections with HIV and HBV.
  • To identify demographic characteristics and common transmission routes of HCV.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study was conducted at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital from December 2019 to February 2024.
  • Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were used to test serum samples from 25,133 patients over four years.

Main Results:

  • The overall sero-prevalence of HCV infection was 0.8% (211/25,133).
  • Among HCV-infected patients, 6.6% had HIV co-infection and 1.4% had HBV co-infection.
  • HCV was most prevalent in young males (15-47 years), with needle sharing among intravenous drug users (45.5%) and sexual intercourse (28%) as primary transmission routes.

Conclusions:

  • Despite a low overall prevalence (<1%), HCV is more common in young, male intravenous drug users in Nepal.
  • Public health awareness initiatives focusing on this high-risk group are essential for controlling HCV transmission.
  • Further research into specific risk factors and targeted interventions is warranted.
Abstract

Keywords:
characters; co-infection; hepatitis C sero-prevalence.

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