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D'Ambrosio R, Anolli MP, Pugliese N, Masetti C, Aghemo A, Lampertico P. Prevalence of HCV infection in Europe in the DAA era: Review. Liver Int 2024; 44:1548-1563. [PMID: 38804727 DOI: 10.1111/liv.15981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
In 2016, the Global Health Sector Strategy, ratified by the 69th World Health Assembly, set the ambitious goal of eliminating hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus infections by 2030, emphasizing the importance of national screening programmes. Achieving this goal depends on each country's ability to identify and treat 80% of chronic hepatitis C cases, a critical threshold set by the World Health Organization. Traditionally, estimates of HCV prevalence have been based on interferon era studies that focused on high-risk subgroups rather than the general population. In addition, the incomplete data available from national registries also limited the understanding of HCV prevalence. The 2016 report from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control highlighted that HCV rates varied across European counties, ranging from .1% to 5.9%. However, data were only available for 13 countries, making the overall picture less clear. Additionally, the epidemiological data may have underestimated the true burden of HCV due to lack of awareness among those with chronic infection. The main objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive summary of HCV epidemiology in Europe in the current era of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). The data included in the analysis range from the end of 2013 to December 2023 and have been categorised according to the United Nations Geoscheme. The resulting synthesis underscores the noteworthy impact of DAA treatment on the epidemiological situation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta D'Ambrosio
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria P Anolli
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Pugliese
- Division of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Science, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Masetti
- Division of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessio Aghemo
- Division of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Science, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
| | - Pietro Lampertico
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, CRC "A. M. and A. Migliavacca" Centre for Liver Disease, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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Basyte-Bacevice V, Kupcinskas L. Viral Hepatitis C: From Unraveling the Nature of Disease to Cure and Global Elimination. Dig Dis 2024:1-10. [PMID: 38718765 DOI: 10.1159/000539210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The discovery of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drugs is one of the major milestones in the last 3 decades of medicine. These discoveries encouraged the World Health Organization (WHO) to set an ambitious goal to eliminate HCV by 2030, meaning "a 90% reduction in new cases of chronic HCV, a 65% reduction in HCV deaths, and treatment of 80% of eligible people with HCV infections." SUMMARY This review summarizes the key achievements from the discovery of HCV to the development of effective treatment and global elimination strategies. A better understanding of HCV structure, enzymes, and lifecycle led to the introduction of new drug targets and the discovery of DAA. Massive public health interventions are required, such as screening, access to care, treatment, and post-care follow-up, to make the most of DAA's potential. Screening must be supported by fast, accessible, sensitive, specific HCV diagnostic tests and noninvasive methods to determine the stage of liver disease. Linkage to care and treatment access are critical components of a comprehensive HCV elimination program, and decentralization plays a key role in ensuring their effectiveness. KEY MESSAGES Effective and simple screening strategies, rapid diagnostic tools, linkage to health care, and accessible treatment are key elements to achieving the WHO's goal. Incorporating treatment as prevention strategies into elimination programs together with preventive education and harm reduction interventions can have a profound and lasting impact on reducing both the incidence and prevalence of HCV. However, WHO's goal can be challenging to implement because of the need for high financial resources and strong political commitment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Limas Kupcinskas
- Institute for Digestive Research, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania
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Petkevičienė J, Voeller A, Čiupkevičienė E, Razavi-Shearer D, Liakina V, Jančorienė L, Kazėnaitė E, Zaksas V, Urbonas G, Kupčinskas L. Hepatitis C screening in Lithuania: first-year results and scenarios for achieving WHO elimination targets. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:1055. [PMID: 38622549 PMCID: PMC11020450 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18470-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The World Health Organization (WHO) has outlined a set of targets to achieve eliminating hepatitis C by 2030. In May 2022, Lithuanian health authorities initiated a hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening program to start working towards elimination. In the program, bonus was given to general practitioners (GPs) to promote and conduct anti-HCV tests for two situations: (1) one time testing for individuals born in 1945-1994 and (2) annual HCV testing for persons who inject drugs or are living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) regardless of age. This study aimed to model the current viral hepatitis C epidemiological status in Lithuania and to outline the requirements for WHO elimination targets using the first-year HCV screening results. METHODS Individuals were invited to participate in the anti-HCV screening by GPs during routine visits. Patients who tested positive were then referred to a gastroenterologist or infectious disease doctor for further confirmatory testing. If a patient received a positive RNA test and a fibrosis staging result of ≥ F2, the doctor prescribed direct-acting antivirals. Information on the patients screened, diagnosed, and treated was obtained from the National Health Insurance Fund. The Markov disease progression model, developed by the CDA Foundation, was used to evaluate the screening program results and HCV elimination progress in Lithuania. RESULTS Between May 2022 and April 2023, 790,070 individuals underwent anti-HCV testing, with 11,943 individuals (1.5%) receiving positive results. Anti-HCV seroprevalence was found to be higher among males than females, 1.9% and 1.2%, respectively. Within the risk population tested, 2087 (31.1%) seropositive individuals were identified. When comparing the screening program results to WHO elimination targets through modelling, 2180 patients still need to be treated annually until 2030, along with expanding fibrosis restrictions. If an elimination approach was implemented, 1000 new infections would be prevented, while saving 150 lives and averting 90 decompensated cirrhosis cases and 110 hepatocellular carcinoma cases. CONCLUSIONS During the first year of the Lithuanian screening program, GPs were able to screen 44% of the target population. However, the country will not meet elimination targets as it currently stands without increasing treatment levels and lifting fibrosis restrictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janina Petkevičienė
- Health Research Institute, Faculty of Public Health, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilžės str. 18, LT47181, Kaunas, Lithuania.
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilžės str. 18, LT47181, Kaunas, Lithuania.
| | - Alexis Voeller
- Center for Disease Analysis Foundation, 1120 W South Boulder Rd, Suite 102, Lafayette, CO, USA
| | - Eglė Čiupkevičienė
- Health Research Institute, Faculty of Public Health, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilžės str. 18, LT47181, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Devin Razavi-Shearer
- Center for Disease Analysis Foundation, 1120 W South Boulder Rd, Suite 102, Lafayette, CO, USA
| | - Valentina Liakina
- Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Universiteto str. 3, LT01513, Vilnius, Lithuania
- Faculty of Fundamental Sciences, Vilnius Tech, Saulėtekio av. 11, LT10223, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Ligita Jančorienė
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases and Dermatovenerology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Medical Faculty, Vilnius University, Santariškių str. 14, 08406, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Edita Kazėnaitė
- Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Universiteto str. 3, LT01513, Vilnius, Lithuania
- Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos, Santariškių str. 2, LT08661, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Viačeslavas Zaksas
- National Health Insurance Fund under the Ministry of Health, Europos Sq. 1, LT03505, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Gediminas Urbonas
- Department of Family Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eivenių str. 2, LT50161, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Limas Kupčinskas
- Department of Gastroenterology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eivenių str. 2, LT50161, Kaunas, Lithuania
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Jančorienė L, Rozentāle B, Tolmane I, Jēruma A, Salupere R, Buivydienė A, Valantinas J, Kupčinskas L, Šumskienė J, Čiupkevičienė E, Ambrozaitis A, Golubovska O, Moroz L, Flisiak R, Bondar B. Genotype Distribution and Characteristics of Chronic Hepatitis C Infection in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Ukraine: The RESPOND-C Study. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2023; 59:1577. [PMID: 37763696 PMCID: PMC10534763 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59091577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Background and objectives: Since 2013, highly effective direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) has become available, with cure rates exceeding 95%. For the choice of optimal CHC treatment, an assessment of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype (GT) and liver fibrosis stage is necessary. Information about the distribution of these parameters among CHC patients in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania (the Baltic states) and especially in Ukraine is scarce. This study was performed to obtain epidemiologic data regarding CHC GT and fibrosis stage distribution for better planning of resources and prioritization of patients for DAA drug treatment according to disease severity in high-income (the Baltic states) and lower-middle-income (Ukraine) countries. Materials and methods: The retrospective RESPOND-C study included 1451 CHC patients. Demographic and disease information was collected from medical charts for each patient. Results: The most common suspected mode of viral transmission was blood transfusions (17.8%), followed by intravenous substance use (15.7%); however, in 50.9% of patients, the exact mode of transmission was not clarified. In Ukraine (18.4%) and Estonia (26%), transmission by intravenous substance use was higher than in Lithuania (5%) and Latvia (5.3%). Distribution of HCV GT among patients with CHC was as follows: GT1-66.4%; GT3-28.1; and GT2-4.1%. The prevalence of GT1 was the highest in Latvia (84%) and the lowest in Ukraine (63%, p < 0.001). Liver fibrosis stages were distributed as follows: F0-12.2%, F1-26.3%, F2-23.5%, F3-17.1%, and F4-20.9%. Cirrhosis (F4) was more prevalent in Lithuanian patients (30.1%) than in Estonians (8.1%, p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study contributes to the knowledge of epidemiologic characteristics of HCV infection in the Baltic states and Ukraine. The data regarding the patterns of HCV GT and fibrosis stage distribution will be helpful for the development of national strategies to control HCV infection in the era of DAA therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ligita Jančorienė
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases and Dermatovenerology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Medical Faculty, Vilnius University, Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos, LT-08406 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Baiba Rozentāle
- Latvian Centre of Infectious Diseases, Riga East Clinical University Hospital, LV-1006 Riga, Latvia
| | - Ieva Tolmane
- Latvian Centre of Infectious Diseases, Riga East Clinical University Hospital, LV-1006 Riga, Latvia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Latvia, LV-1586 Riga, Latvia
| | - Agita Jēruma
- Latvian Centre of Infectious Diseases, Riga East Clinical University Hospital, LV-1006 Riga, Latvia
- Faculty of Medicine, Riga Stradins University, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia
| | - Riina Salupere
- Tartu University Hospital, University of Tartu, EE-50406 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Arida Buivydienė
- Clinic of Gastroenterology, Nephrourology and Surgery, Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos, LT-08406 Vilnius, Lithuania
- Centre of Hepatology, Gastroenterology and Dietetics, Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos, LT-08406 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Jonas Valantinas
- Clinic of Gastroenterology, Nephrourology and Surgery, Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos, LT-08406 Vilnius, Lithuania
- Centre of Hepatology, Gastroenterology and Dietetics, Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos, LT-08406 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Limas Kupčinskas
- Department of Gastroenterology, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Jolanta Šumskienė
- Department of Gastroenterology, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Eglė Čiupkevičienė
- Department of Gastroenterology, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania
- Health Research Institute, Faculty of Public Health, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-47181 Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Arvydas Ambrozaitis
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases and Dermatovenerology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Medical Faculty, Vilnius University, Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos, LT-08406 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Olga Golubovska
- Infectious Disease Department, O.O. Bogomolets National Medical University, 01601 Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Larysa Moroz
- Department of Infectious Diseases with the Course of Epidemiology, National Pirogov Memorial Medical University, 21018 Vinnytsya, Ukraine
| | - Robert Flisiak
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Borys Bondar
- AbbVie Biopharmaceuticals GmbH, 01032 Kyiv, Ukraine
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Ways to Eliminate Viral Hepatitis as a Global Health Threat. Viruses 2022; 14:v14071554. [PMID: 35891534 PMCID: PMC9317760 DOI: 10.3390/v14071554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
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