Prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders in children with chronic hepatitis C in British Columbia

Chronic hepatitis C (HCV) in children is primarily acquired through vertical transmission from an HCV-infected mother. The primary risk factor for chronic HCV in mothers is intravenous drug use, which, in pregnancy, is associated with increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children. We explored the prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders among children with chronic HCV in British Columbia.

Retrospective chart review was conducted for children actively followed for HCV at our centre between December 2020 and April 2024. Data were collected on demographic and clinical information including diagnoses of neurodevelopmental disorders and other learning difficulties.

We identified 29 children under 18 years of age (13 male, 16 female); 28 had HCV due to vertical transmission and 1 for unknown reasons, potentially due to the patient's own substance use. Forty-eight percent (n = 14) of patients had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Among these, 43% (n = 6) had fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, 21% (n = 3) had autism spectrum disorder, and 14% (n = 2) had other learning and developmental difficulties including speech delay and sensory processing issues. In total, 62% (n = 18) of patients had some neurodevelopmental disorder or learning difficulty.

In our study population of children with chronic HCV, a majority had at least one documented neurodevelopmental disorder, representing a previously undescribed issue among pediatric patients with chronic HCV. We suggest practitioners who care for children with chronic HCV may have a role in proactively identifying patients with neurodevelopmental difficulties and linking them with appropriate resources.