Abstract
BackgroundHepatitis C is a curable disease, but reinfection from household contact may occur in patients who have achieved sustained viral response (SVR).MethodsA total of 997 ethnic Han HCV treatment-naïve adult patients were enrolled in a cross-sectional study with stratified sampling based on the populations of five geographic regions across China to examine the genetic and physiological parameters associated with the phenomenon of HCV familial clustering.ResultsOf the total 997 patients, there were 59 patients who had at least one family member with HCV infection according to patient self-report. Comparison between patients with and without HCV familial clustering by univariate regression analysis showed that genotype 2, sexual transmission, long-term exposure to HCV patients, monthly family income per person less than 2000 yuan, farming occupation, and the southern and northern regions were associated with HCV familial clustering. Blood transfusion was negatively associated with HCV familial clustering. Multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested that long-term exposure to HCV patients and low family income were correlated with HCV familial clustering, whereas blood transfusion was negatively associated, which meant that blood transfusion was not the main transmission route in HCV familial clustering.ConclusionLong-term exposure to HCV patients and low family income were correlated with HCV familial clustering, whereas blood transfusion was not the main transmission route in HCV familial clustering. To reduce reinfection from household contacts, education and awareness of HCV transmission routes and familial clustering should be strengthened, especially among HCV patients’ family members, low-income families and non-blood transmission hepatitis C patients.
Highlights
Hepatitis C is a curable disease, but reinfection from household contact may occur in patients who have achieved sustained viral response (SVR)
This study investigated the risk factors for familial clustering of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) among the Chinese Han population via a large cross-sectional observational study
Epidemiological evidence for intrafamilial transmission relies on the higher prevalence of anti-HCV/ HCV RNA positivity among household contacts compared with the general population [12,13,14, 16]
Summary
Hepatitis C is a curable disease, but reinfection from household contact may occur in patients who have achieved sustained viral response (SVR). The World Health Organization(WHO) Global health sector strategy on viral hepatitis 2016–2021 is expected to deliver a 70% reduction in HCV incidence by 2030 compared with 2010 [2]. Reinfection may occur in household settings if other family members are unaware of their infection and ongoing risk behaviors. To eradicate HCV, in addition to potent drugs, increasing awareness of HCV infection among family members of hepatitis C patients and changing lifestyle habits to avoid reinfection through household settings are essential
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