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Abbasi F, Almukhtar M, Fazlollahpour-Naghibi A, Alizadeh F, Behzad Moghadam K, Jafari Tadi M, Ghadimi S, Bagheri K, Babaei H, Bijani MH, Rouholamin S, Razavi M, Rezaeinejad M, Chemaitelly H, Sepidarkish M, Farid-Mojtahedi M, Rostami A. Hepatitis C infection seroprevalence in pregnant women worldwide: a systematic review and meta-analysis. EClinicalMedicine 2023; 66:102327. [PMID: 38045801 PMCID: PMC10692665 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.102327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Monitoring progress towards the WHO global target to eliminate hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection by 2030, entails reliable prevalence estimates for HCV infection in different populations. Little is known about the global burden of HCV infection in pregnant women. Here, for the first time to our knowledge, we estimated the global and regional seroprevalence of HCV antibody (Ab) and determinants in pregnant women. Methods In this systematic review and meta-analysis study, we searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, and SciELO databases for peer-reviewed observational studies between January 1, 2000 and April 1, 2023, without language or geographical restrictions. Pooled global seroprevalence (and 95% confidence interval, CI) were estimated using random-effects meta-analysis and seroprevalences were categorised according to World Health Organization regions and subregions, publishing year, countries' income and human development index (HDI) levels. We used sensitivity analysis to assess the effect of four large sample size studies on pooled global prevalence through the "leave-one-out" method. We also investigated the association of potential risk factors with HCV seropositivity in pregnant women by subgroup and meta-regression analyses. The Protocol was registered in PROSPERO CRD42023423259. Findings We included 192 eligible studies (208 datasets), with data for 148,509,760 pregnant women from 53 countries. The global seroprevalence of HCV Ab in pregnant women was 1.80% (95% CI, 1.72-1.89%) and 3.29% (3.01-3.57%) in overall and sensitivity analyses, respectively. The seroprevalence was highest in the Eastern Mediterranean region (6.21%, 4.39-8.29%) and lowest in the Western Pacific region (0.75%, 0.38-1.22%). Subgroup analysis indicated that the seroprevalence of HCV Ab among pregnant women was significantly higher for those with opioid use disorder (51.94%, 95% CI: 37.32-66.39) and HIV infection (4.34%, 95% CI: 2.21-7.06%) than for the general population of pregnant women (1.08%, 95% CI: 1.02-1.15%), as confirmed by multivariable meta-regression (p < 0.001). A significant decreasing trend was observed with increasing human development index levels. Other important risk factors for HCV seropositivity included older age, lower educational levels, poly sexual activity, history of blood transfusion, hospitalization, surgery, abortion and sexual transmitted diseases, having scarification/tattoo or piercing, and testing hepatitis B positive. Interpretation This meta-analysis showed relatively high burden of exposure to HCV infection (2.2-5.3 million) in pregnant women globally. However, due to substantial heterogeneity between studies, our estimates might be different than the true seroprevalence. Our findings highlighted the need to expand HCV screening for women of reproductive age or during pregnancy, particularly in countries with high prevalence; as well as for more studies that assess safety of existing therapeutic drugs during pregnancy or potentially support development of drugs for pregnant women. Funding There was no funding source for this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farzaneh Abbasi
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Centre, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | | | - Andarz Fazlollahpour-Naghibi
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Centre, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Faezeh Alizadeh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Illinois, Chicago, USA
| | | | - Mehrdad Jafari Tadi
- Department of Cell and Molecular Medicine, Rush University Medical Centre, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Saleh Ghadimi
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Centre, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Kimia Bagheri
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Centre, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Hedye Babaei
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Centre, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hossein Bijani
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Centre, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Safoura Rouholamin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Maryam Razavi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
| | - Mahroo Rezaeinejad
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hiam Chemaitelly
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology Group, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Qatar Foundation - Education City, Doha, Qatar
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Disease Epidemiology Analytics on HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and Viral Hepatitis, Weill Cornell Medicine–Qatar, Cornell University, Qatar Foundation – Education City, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mahdi Sepidarkish
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Maryam Farid-Mojtahedi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Arash Women's Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Rostami
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Centre, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
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Marshall AD, Martinello M, Zolopa C, Treloar C, Larney S. Universal hepatitis C virus screening and treatment as part of prenatal care. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 8:295-297. [PMID: 36905933 DOI: 10.1016/s2468-1253(22)00421-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Revised: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 03/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alison D Marshall
- The Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; Centre for Social Research in Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
| | - Marianne Martinello
- The Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; Department of Infectious Diseases, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Camille Zolopa
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier, l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Carla Treloar
- Centre for Social Research in Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Sarah Larney
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier, l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada; Department of Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine, l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
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Honegger JR, Gowda C. Defer no more: advances in the treatment and prevention of chronic hepatitis C virus infection in children. Curr Opin Infect Dis 2022; 35:468-476. [PMID: 35852787 PMCID: PMC9474609 DOI: 10.1097/qco.0000000000000856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) regimens targeting hepatitis C virus (HCV) are now approved for young children. This review examines recent DAA experience in children, current treatment recommendations and challenges, and potential treatment-as-prevention strategies. RECENT FINDINGS In 2021, the US FDA extended approval of two pan-genotypic DAA regimens, glecaprevir/pibrentasvir and sofosbuvir/velpatasvir, to children as young as age 3 years based on high success rates and reassuring safety profiles in registry trials. Similar performance has been replicated with real-world DAA use in thousands of adolescents and in limited reports of children with high-risk conditions, including cirrhosis, cancer, thalassemia and HIV-coinfection. Treatment without delay is now recommended in the USA for viremic children aged 3 years and up to prevent disease progression and future spread. To date, treatment expansion is limited by high rates of undiagnosed paediatric infection. Universal prenatal screening will aid identification of perinatally exposed newborns, but new strategies are needed to boost testing of exposed infants and at-risk adolescents. Postpartum treatment programmes can prevent subsequent vertical transmission but are hampered by low rates of linkage to care and treatment completion. These challenges may be avoided by DAA use in pregnancy, and this warrants continued study. SUMMARY Paediatric HCV is now readily curable. Substantial clinical and public health effort is required to ensure widespread uptake of this therapeutic breakthrough.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan R. Honegger
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Center for Vaccines and Immunity, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Charitha Gowda
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Partners For Kids, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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Universal screening for hepatitis C - in for a penny, in for a pound. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2022; 41:341-347. [PMID: 35022892 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-021-04395-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
Infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major public health problem. In fact, chronic HCV is a leading cause of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and death from liver disease in most countries. The advent of highly effective oral direct-acting antiviral therapy is the most significant advance in the treatment of HCV in decades and now allows us to cure chronic HCV. However, a large number of infected patients have not been diagnosed since hepatitis C is a largely asymptomatic disease. Thus, it is fundamental to improve the screening system in order to identify individuals who are currently infected and to treat them. Risk-based hepatitis C testing and birth cohort screening have had limited success and many patients living with the infection are not aware of their status. Universal screening for HCV is a tremendous improvement compared with the previous strategies. Indeed, global screening leads to the appropriate identification and treatment of all individuals chronically infected with HCV and prevents the progression of liver disease and the associated morbidity and mortality. In addition, universal HCV testing appears to be cost-effective. In this article, we review the current barriers to HCV eradication and the different strategies for HCV infection screening.
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Garrido I, Macedo G. Letter: universal screening for hepatitis C in pregnant women, children and adolescents. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2021; 54:977-978. [PMID: 34506663 DOI: 10.1111/apt.16546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Garrido
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal.,World Gastroenterology Organization (WGO) Porto Training Center, Porto, Portugal
| | - Guilherme Macedo
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal.,World Gastroenterology Organization (WGO) Porto Training Center, Porto, Portugal
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Mennini FS, Marcellusi A, Robbins Scott S, Montilla S, Craxi A, Buti M, Gheorghe L, Ryder S, Kondili LA. The impact of direct acting antivirals on hepatitis C virus disease burden and associated costs in four european countries. Liver Int 2021; 41:934-948. [PMID: 33529499 PMCID: PMC8248004 DOI: 10.1111/liv.14808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS We assessed the clinical and economic impact of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) in England, Italy, Romania and Spain. METHODS An HCV progression Markov model was developed considering DAA eligibility and population data during the years 2015-2019. The period of time to recover the investment in DAAs was calculated as the cost saved by avoiding estimated clinical events for 1000 standardized treated patients. A delayed treatment scenario because of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was also developed. RESULTS The estimated number of avoided hepatocellular carcinoma, decompensated cirrhosis and liver transplantations over a 20-year time horizon was: 1,057 in England; 1,221 in Italy; 1,211 in Romania; and 1,103 in Spain for patients treated during 2015-2016 and 640 in England; 626 in Italy; 739 in Romania; and 643 in Spain for patients treated during 2017-2019. The cost-savings ranged from € 45 to € 275 million. The investment needed to expand access to DAAs in 2015-2019 is estimated to be recovered in 6.5 years in England; 5.4 years in Italy; 6.7 years in Romania; and 4.5 years in Spain. A delay in treatment because of COVID-19 will increase liver mortality in all countries. CONCLUSION Direct-acting antivirals have significant clinical benefits and can bring substantial cost-savings over the next 20 years, reaching a Break-even point in a short period of time. When pursuing an exit strategy from strict lockdown measures for COVID-19, providing DAAs should remain high on the list of priorities in order to maintain HCV elimination efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco S. Mennini
- Economic Evaluation and HTACentre for Economic and International Studies(EEHTA‐CEIS) Faculty of EconomicsUniversity of Rome “Tor Vergata”RomeItaly
- Institute of Leadership and Management in HealthKingston Business SchoolKingston UniveristyLondonUK
| | - Andrea Marcellusi
- Economic Evaluation and HTACentre for Economic and International Studies(EEHTA‐CEIS) Faculty of EconomicsUniversity of Rome “Tor Vergata”RomeItaly
- Institute of Leadership and Management in HealthKingston Business SchoolKingston UniveristyLondonUK
| | - Sarah Robbins Scott
- Economic Evaluation and HTACentre for Economic and International Studies(EEHTA‐CEIS) Faculty of EconomicsUniversity of Rome “Tor Vergata”RomeItaly
| | - Simona Montilla
- Department of Economic Strategy of Pharmaceutical ProductsItalian Medicines AgencyRomeItaly
| | - Antonio Craxi
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology UnitDepartment of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties "PROMISE"University of PalermoPalermoItaly
| | - Maria Buti
- Liver UnitHospital Universitario Valle Hebron and CIBER‐EHD del Insitituto Carlos IIIBarcelonaSpain
| | - Liana Gheorghe
- Center for Digestive Diseases and Liver TransplantationFundeni Clinical InstituteUniversity of Medicine and Pharmacy Carol DavilaBucharestRomania
| | - Stephen Ryder
- NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research CentreNottingham University Hospitals NHS TrustThe University of NottinghamNottinghamUK
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Kushner T, Reau N. Changing epidemiology, implications, and recommendations for hepatitis C in women of childbearing age and during pregnancy. J Hepatol 2021; 74:734-741. [PMID: 33248169 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2020.11.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Despite the remarkable advances in HCV treatment brought about by the advent of direct-acting antivirals, HCV remains a global public health concern. One particular concern relates to the rising prevalence of HCV in women of childbearing age. Active HCV during pregnancy is associated with cholestasis of pregnancy as well as the risk of mother-to-child transmission. Guidelines are increasingly recommending universal screening during pregnancy, while the treatment of HCV during pregnancy is an area of ongoing research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatyana Kushner
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Nancy Reau
- Hepatology Services, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States.
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