Systematic Reviews
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2022. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Cases. May 16, 2022; 10(14): 4480-4493
Published online May 16, 2022. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v10.i14.4480
Distribution and changes in hepatitis C virus genotype in China from 2010 to 2020
Jia Yang, Hui-Xin Liu, Ying-Ying Su, Zhi-Sheng Liang, Hui-Ying Rao
Jia Yang, Hui-Ying Rao, Peking University Hepatology Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hepatitis C and Immunotherapy for Liver Diseases, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing 100044, China
Hui-Xin Liu, Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing 100044, China
Ying-Ying Su, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361000, Fujian Province, China
Zhi-Sheng Liang, Department of Global Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100044, China
Author contributions: Yang J performed the research, analyzed the data, drew some of the figures and wrote the paper; Liu HX and Su YY designed the research; Liang ZS drew some of the pictures; Rao HY and Liu HX supervised the whole research, such as the design of the methodology, validation, review and editing of the paper.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All of the authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the work in this paper. The authors declare no study sponsor involvement in the study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.
PRISMA 2009 Checklist statement: The authors have read the PRISMA 2009 Checklist, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the PRISMA 2009 Checklist.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Hui-Ying Rao, MD, PhD, Chief Doctor, Professor, Peking University Hepatology Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hepatitis C and Immunotherapy for Liver Diseases, Peking University People’s Hospital, No. 11 Xizhimen South Street, Xicheng District, Beijing 100044, China. rao.huiying@163.com
Received: November 8, 2021
Peer-review started: November 8, 2021
First decision: February 14, 2022
Revised: February 28, 2022
Accepted: March 25, 2022
Article in press: March 25, 2022
Published online: May 16, 2022
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
Research background

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a major problem worldwide since the infected population and new infections have not decreased much. Direct-acting antiviral, a revolutionary regimen to cure HCV, is highly effective except for some special genotypes. Genotype distribution has undergone great changes since the transformation of the route of transmission. Thus, being aware of the HCV genotype distribution is definitely helpful in HCV infection management.

Research motivation

HCV includes a variety of genotypes owing to different transmission routes in different risk populations. Although the pangenotype regimen has become the best solution to cure HCV currently, not all genotypes respond well. To better curb HCV infection and reduce the disease and economic burden of HCV infection, knowing the present genotype constitution would be quite helpful.

Research objectives

Our main objective was to describe the distribution of HCV genotypes in China over the past ten years and to determine the trends of distribution in the future to better manage HCV infection.

Research methods

We searched all of the literature published in five electronic databases over the past 10 years. Then, we carefully selected literature that fulfilled our inclusion criteria and excluded literature that conformed to the exclusion criteria. After screening, the data of the remaining studies were extracted to build a database. Data were totaled and calculated according to different classifications: Regions, time periods, routes of transmission, and sexes.

Research results

A total of 76110 samples from 30 provinces were included in the study. Genotype 1 (G1) accounted for 58.2% nationwide, followed by G2, G6, G3b, and G3a. The constitution of genotypes varied among different regions. G6 and G3b were more common in the south and southwest (28.1%, 15.4%). The past ten years have witnessed a decrease in G1 and G2 and an increase in G3 and G6 in almost all regions. The drug-user population had the most abundant genotypes, with G6 ranking first (33.3%), followed by G1 and G3b (23.4%, 18.5%).

Research conclusions

However, G1 and G2 accounted for the majority of HCV infections, and their decreasing tendency was clear and definite. G3 and G6 posed a new challenge in HCV infection. This study revealed the distribution of HCV genotypes in China over the past 10 years, providing information for HCV management strategies.

Research perspectives

How to curb the development of new HCV infections and effectively cure already infected populations should be investigated in the future.