Introduction:
Few large-scale investigations on genotype (GT) distribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Hunan Province, China, are reported.

Material and methods:
We recruited all of the 952 patients in the census register of Hunan Province who were first diagnosed with HCV infection in the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University in 2014–2016. HCV genotypes were surveyed. The genotype distribution pattern was compared with those of the neighboring regions in China.

Results:
Among the 952 patients, genotype 1 (GT1) (69.9%) was the most common HCV genotype, followed by GT6 (19.0%), GT3 (8.4%), and GT2 (2.6%). GT4 and GT5 were not found. One case had mixed infection of GT3 and GT6. Predominance of GT1 HCV was more evident in the patients aged ≥ 40 years than in those aged < 40 years (79.5% vs. 47.9%, 2 = 95.993, p < 0.001). HCV genotype distribution had gender difference (2 = 44.695, p < 0.001), with GT3 and GT6 more prevalent in males than in females (36.2% vs. 18.2%, 2 = 39.088, p < 0.001) while GT1 more prevalent in females than in males (80.1% vs. 60.3%, 2 = 44.276, p < 0.001). Though Hunan Province is located in central China, its HCV genotype priority was similar with the change trend in south and southwest China, while distinguished from those of other regions, in particular from the neighboring central province, Hubei Province.

Conclusions:
HCV GT1 was the most predominant HCV genotype in Hunan Province, and GT6 and GT3 accounted for a significant percentage, especially in young patients. The HCV distribution pattern was more similar to those of the regions in south China.