title: Demographic and anthropometrical analysis and genotype distribution of chronic hepatitis C patients treated in public and private reference centers in Brazil.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a serious public health problem, since 80% to 85% of HCV carriers develop a persistent infection that can progress into liver cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma. Considering that the response of hepatitis C patients to combination therapy with interferon and ribavirin depends on HCV characteristics as well as on host features, we made a retrospective analysis of demographic and anthropometrical data and HCV genotype distribution of chronic hepatitis C patients treated in public and private reference centers in Brazil. The medical records of 4,996 patients were reviewed, 81% from public and 19% from private institutions. Patients' median age was 46 years, and there was a higher prevalence of male (62%) and white patients (80%). The analysis of HCV-infecting strains showed a predominance of genotype 1 (64%) over genotypes 2 and 3. The patients' mean weight was 70.6 kg, and 65% of the patients weighed less than 77 kg. Overweight and obesity were observed in 37.8% and 13.6% of the patients, respectively. Since a body weight of 75 kg or less has been considered an independent factor that significantly increases the odds of achieving a sustained virological response, the Brazilian population seems to have a more favorable body weight profile to achieve a sustained response than the American and European populations. The finding that 65% of chronic hepatitis C patients have a body weight of 77 kg or less may have a positive pharmacoeconomic impact on the treatment of genotype 1 HCV patients with weight-based doses of peginterferon.
authors.affiliation: Emílio Ribas Institute, São Paulo, SP 02146-900, Brazil. focaccia@uol.com.br
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Focaccia
authors.forename: D C M
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Baraldo
authors.forename: M L G
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ferraz
authors.forename: A L C
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Carrilho
authors.forename: F L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Gonçales
authors.forename: M L A
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pedroso
authors.forename: H S M
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lacerda
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Brandão
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Mattos
authors.forename: L G C
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Lira
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zamin
authors.forename: J O P
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
authors.forename: C V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Tovo
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Both
authors.forename: J A S
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dittrich
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies