Feyissa GD. Sex-related differences in treatment outcomes of chronic hepatitis C with direct-acting antivirals. World J Hepatol 2025; 17(10): 110430 [DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v17.i10.110430]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Gemechu Dereje Feyissa, Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rift Valley University, Hangatu District, Dabe Sub-city, Adama 1715, Oromīa, Ethiopia. gemechudereje80@gmail.com
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Article-Type of This Article
Editorial
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This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Oct 27, 2025 (publication date) through Oct 27, 2025
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Journal Information of This Article
Publication Name
World Journal of Hepatology
ISSN
1948-5182
Publisher of This Article
Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA
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Feyissa GD. Sex-related differences in treatment outcomes of chronic hepatitis C with direct-acting antivirals. World J Hepatol 2025; 17(10): 110430 [DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v17.i10.110430]
World J Hepatol. Oct 27, 2025; 17(10): 110430 Published online Oct 27, 2025. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v17.i10.110430
Sex-related differences in treatment outcomes of chronic hepatitis C with direct-acting antivirals
Gemechu Dereje Feyissa
Gemechu Dereje Feyissa, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rift Valley University, Adama 1715, Oromīa, Ethiopia
Author contributions: Feyissa GD has played important and indispensable roles in the manuscript preparation, read and approved the final version of the manuscript to be published.
Conflict-of-interest statement: There are no conflicts of interest.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Gemechu Dereje Feyissa, Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rift Valley University, Hangatu District, Dabe Sub-city, Adama 1715, Oromīa, Ethiopia. gemechudereje80@gmail.com
Received: June 7, 2025 Revised: June 19, 2025 Accepted: August 22, 2025 Published online: October 27, 2025 Processing time: 143 Days and 18.1 Hours
Abstract
This editorial provides commentary on the study by Dobrowolska et al, highlighting the influence of biological sex on hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection risk and disease progression. HCV infection is more common in men; however, women, regardless of age, show a lower prevalence of genotype 3 infection, diabetes mellitus, and coinfections with hepatitis B virus and human immunodeficiency virus. Women also experience slower liver fibrosis progression. Despite this, mild adverse events, autoimmune diseases, and depression occur more frequently in women. Sustained virologic response at 12 weeks post-treatment was significantly higher in women (98.4%) than in men (96.6%). In women, postmenopausal status, genotype 3 infection, and cirrhosis were independently associated with treatment failure. Early diagnosis and timely antiviral therapy in women are critical to preventing vertical transmission and mitigating disease advancement.
Core Tip: Sex influences the epidemiology, progression, and treatment outcomes of chronic hepatitis C. Women exhibit lower body mass index, less genotype 3 infection, and fewer hepatitis B virus/human immunodeficiency virus coinfections compared to men. They have slower liver fibrosis progression and achieve higher sustained virologic response rates with direct-acting antivirals. However, postmenopausal women report more treatment-related adverse events. Recognizing these sex- and reproductive status-related differences is crucial to optimize personalized management and improve therapeutic outcomes in chronic hepatitis C patients.
