title: Update on epidemiology of HCV in Italy: focus on the Calabria Region.
abstract: The epidemiological profile of HCV infection is evolving in Europe, as well as in Italy. We have previously showed genotype distributions and their dynamics in 2,153 HCV RNA positive patients living in Calabria, Southern Italy, over 11 years. In this study, we extend and update this information by evaluating a hospital-based cohort of 945 HCV RNA positive patients attending five hospitals in the Calabria Region from January 2011 to August 2013. We assessed rates of HCV genotypes according to age and gender and the dynamics of HCV genotype distribution over the 3-year period studied. Data showed that genotype 1b is the most prevalent, followed by subtypes 2a/2c and genotype 3. Genotype 4 exhibited an increase between 2011 and 2013. Also, we found a significant decrease in the median age of subjects infected with HCV genotype 3 and 4 during the period studied. Since HCV genotypes are important in epidemiology, pathogenesis and response to antiviral therapy, a continuous epidemiological surveillance is needed.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Marascio
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liberto
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barreca
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zicca
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Quirino
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lamberti
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Matera
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Surace
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Berardelli
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Surace
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Maria
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giancotti
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Leone
authors.forename: Vilma
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Villella
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nisticò
authors.forename: Annelisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borelli
authors.forename: Vincenzina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calderazzo
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Griffo
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Masciari
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Minchella
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cosco
authors.forename: Carmelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Laganà
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oliva
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Foti
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fiorillo
authors.forename: Giuseppa
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bocchiaro
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Surace
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ciccaglione
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciccozzi
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cesario
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Torti
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Focà
mesh_terms: D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence