Epidemiology of the Incidence, Prevalence and Burden of Hepatitis C (HC) and Relationship to Human Development Index (HDI) in Iran During 1990 - 2019

Soheila Abolghasemi; Changiz Rostami; Elham Goudarzi

Koomesh

Journal of Semnan University of Medical Sciences

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https://doi.org/10.69107/koomesh-149284

Epidemiology of the Incidence, Prevalence and Burden of Hepatitis C (HC) and Relationship to Human Development Index (HDI) in Iran During 1990 - 2019

Author(s):

Soheila Abolghasemi¹,

Changiz Rostami^{2, 3},

Elham Goudarzi

^{2, 3,*}

1Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

2Hepatitis Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran

3Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Koomesh:Vol. 27, issue 5; e149284

Published online:Sep 08, 2025

Article type:Research Article

How to Cite:Abolghasemi S, Rostami C, Goudarzi E. Epidemiology of the Incidence, Prevalence and Burden of Hepatitis C (HC) and Relationship to Human Development Index (HDI) in Iran During 1990 - 2019. koomesh. 2025;27(5):e149284. doi: https://doi.org/10.69107/koomesh-149284

Abstract

Background: The incidence and mortality associated with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) impose a significant burden on healthcare systems worldwide.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the epidemiology of hepatitis C (HC) in Iran from 1990 - 2019.

Method: The present study is population-based. Epidemiological data on HC were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease database for the year 2019. This data includes incidence, prevalence, and burden standardized by age, classified by gender, and province. We assessed trends in HC incidence, prevalence, and burden from 1990 to 2019. Additionally, we calculated the relationship between the Human Development Index and age-standardized incidence and prevalence.

Results: The results indicated that the age-standardized prevalence and incidence of HC decreased from 1990 to 2010, followed by an increase from 2010 to 2019. In 2019, the highest incidence of HC was reported in the provinces of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari (0.49 per 100,000), Ilam (0.4 per 100,000), and Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad (0.33 per 100,000). Conversely, the highest prevalence was observed in the provinces of Sistan and Baluchistan (89.86 per 100,000), Qazvin (85.7 per 100,000), and Razavi Khorasan (82.96 per 100,000). In all provinces of the country, with the exceptions of West Azerbaijan (0.87% increase), Gilan (1.14% increase), and Sistan and Baluchistan (0.55% increase), the incidence of HC has decreased. Additionally, the study results demonstrated a significant negative correlation between the incidence rate (r = -0.538, P = 0.001) and prevalence (r = -0.532, P = 0.002), both standardized by age, and the Human Development Index.

Conclusion: Considering the variations in the epidemiology of HC across different provinces, health policymakers should develop more effective strategies to control and prevent HCV infection. It is essential to implement necessary measures to manage this disease effectively.

Keywords

Hepatitis C

Iran

Global Burden of Disease

Human Development

Index

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Soheila Abolghasemi:[PubMed][Scholar]
Changiz Rostami:[PubMed][Scholar]
Elham Goudarzi:[PubMed][Scholar]

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Epidemiology of the Incidence, Prevalence and Burden of Hepatitis C (HC) and Relationship to Human Development Index (HDI) in Iran During 1990 - 2019

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