Epidemiological Profile of Hepatitis C in Paraná Between 2018 and 2024

Hepatitis C is caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). It can present in acute or chronic forms and poses a global public health challenge, with rapid and silent progression from acute to chronic infection. This study aims to characterize the epidemiological profile of hepatitis C cases notified in Paraná, Brazil. Cross-sectional, quantitative study using secondary data from SINAN. Confirmed HCV infection cases from 2018 to 2024 were included. Data were organized in Excel® and analyzed using simple frequencies in SPSS® v22.0. CAAE no. 73429023.6.0000.5231. A total of 7,604 hepatitis C cases were analyzed across the pre-pandemic (2018–2019) (38.9%), pandemic (2020–2021) (22.7%), and post-pandemic (2022–2024) (38.4%) periods. Most cases occurred in men (57%), adults aged 19 to 59 years (67.8%), white individuals (71.1%), and people with 10 years of schooling or more (35.1%). Cases were concentrated mainly in the Eastern macro-region (61.4%), especially the Curitiba Health Region (51.7%). Chronic infection predominated (79%), with a high proportion of reactive anti-HCV tests (93.1%). HCV viral load was detected in 37.9%, and genotype 1 (12.5%) was the most frequent among those genotyped. Regarding likely transmission route, sexual transmission was highlighted (10.7%), followed by drug use (7.8%); vertical transmission was rare (0.3%). Invasive procedures (surgeries, transfusions, injectable use) and practices such as crack use and tattooing were also reported. The analysis highlighted important epidemiological patterns in Paraná, with a decline in notifications during the pandemic and recovery in the post-pandemic period. There was greater impact among adult, white men, with predominance of chronic disease. A high concentration of cases in large municipalities, especially the Curitiba Metropolitan Area and the Eastern macro-region, was observed, reinforcing the need for regionalized strategies for surveillance, prevention, and timely diagnosis and treatment.