Characterization of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Patients from Himachal Pradesh

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.

 

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Conflict of Interest

None declared.

• References

• 1 Sharma B, Sharma V, Kumar R. et al. Sociodemographic profile, genotype, and response to therapy in hepatitis C virus infection: a brief report from Himachal Pradesh. J Gastrointest Infect. 2023; 13 (01) 30-33
• 2 Mahajan S, Chauhan M, Manish S, Abrol RK. Preliminary screening for prevalence of hepatitis B, C viruses and their co-infection: a hospital based study of North India. Indian J Microbiol Res. 2015; 2 (03) 189-191
• 3 Sachdeva A, Gupta A, Sharma B, Sharma D, Sharma N. Seroprevalence trends of transfusion transmitted infections among blood donors in a tertiary care hospital of Himachal Pradesh, India. Int J Res Med Sci 2016; 4 (11) 5002-5006
• 4 Verma K, Kumar S, Sharma V. Prevalence of hepatitis-C viral infection among opioid dependent injectable drug users: a study conducted at regional hospital drug de-addiction and treatment centre, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India. Int J Res Med Sci 2020; 8 (07) 2458-2461
• 5 World Health Organization. Global Hepatitis Report 2024: Action for Access in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2024

Publication History

Received: 11 March 2025

Accepted: 11 March 2025

Article published online:
22 May 2025