I read an interesting brief report titled “Sociodemographic profile, genotype, and
response to therapy in hepatitis C virus infection: a brief report from Himachal Pradesh,”
published in the month of November 2023, Volume 13, Issue 1, of your esteemed journal.
This study is a good initiative for investigating the hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence,
majorly circulating HCV genotype, profiles of HCV infected patients, and most importantly
their response to therapy in the state of Himachal Pradesh.[1]
As mentioned by the authors, there are almost nil to very few studies estimating the
prevalence of HCV infection or the respective profiles of the patients in Himachal
Pradesh. Although some retrospective studies from Himachal Pradesh mention that HCV
is the second most common infection found in preliminary screening of patients and
in transfusion transmitted infections among blood donors,[2]
[3] there is still an urgent need to evaluate the burden of HCV infection in Himachal
Pradesh. Another study from the state of Himachal Pradesh reported high rates of HCV
infection among intravenous drug users.[4] Intravenous drug use (IVDU) is rampant, not only in Himachal Pradesh but also all
over the world. As a result, HCV infection is emerging as a global public health threat.[5]
The authors of the study (Sharma et al) have very comprehensively listed the various
risk factors associated with the acquisition of HCV infection in the study subjects
as IVDU (61.4%), tattooing (11.7%), and hemodialysis (11.1%). Apart from this, the
authors have also outlined the sociodemographic characteristics like occupation, literacy,
locality and clinical parameters, and response to therapy of the enrolled subjects.
An analysis of all the variables along with the circulating HCV genotypes where genotype
3a is the widely circulating sheds light on the entirety of the HCV infection acquisition
and its ultimate progression and clearance in the patients. There is no study from
the state of Himachal Pradesh yet, which has simultaneously investigated the patients'
profiles, risk factors, and HCV genotype in hepatitis C–infected patients.
The study aptly highlights IVDU as a growing hazard in spreading HCV infection in
Himachal Pradesh. The concerning fact is that most intravenous drug users are young
college-going males from urban areas. This particular group is educated and might
be aware of the opioid drug use including injection drug use and subsequent HCV transmission.
Therefore, there is a dire need to address the problem of IVDU. Such patients should
be given utmost attention. Procedures should be in place for tracking, testing, and
treating these patients.
To conclude, this study is an excellent step toward studying the prevalence of HCV
infection, the circulating HCV genotype, and the risk factors found in patients from
Himachal Pradesh. It will also provide guidance to other future studies from the state.
