High seroprevalence of HCV in the Abruzzo Region, Italy: results on a large sample from opt-out pre-surgical screening

Polilli, Ennio; Tontodonati, M.; Flacco, Maria Elena; Ursini, Tamara; Striani, Palmira; Giammartino, Dante Di; Paoloni, M.; Vallarola, Luigi; Pressanti, Gabriella Lucidi; Fragassi, Giorgia; Accorsi, Patrizia; Manzoli, Lamberto; Parruti, Giustino

doi:10.1007/s15010-015-0841-3

Cited by 11 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…More recent studies suggested that HCV prevalence was decreasing in Italy [4, 16, 17], as well as in all Europe [18], due to the vanishing of the most affected older birth cohorts. However, seroprevalence surveys demonstrated a bimodal distribution of HCV infection both in Northern and in Southern Italy [17, 19, 20], with a minor peak in younger subjects and a higher one in the elderly. These findings suggest the occurrence of two epidemic waves of HCV infection in Italy: the first in the 1950s, due to unsafe medical procedures, and the second one in young people in the late 1970s and in the 1980s, due to the diffusion of intravenous drug use [3].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of chronic liver disease among young/middle-aged adults in Northern Italy: role of hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infection by age, sex, ethnicity

Fedeli

Avossa

Ferroni

et al. 2019

Heliyon

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Background Sparse population-based data are available on the prevalence and etiology of chronic liver disease (CLD) in Italy. The study aims to assess the role of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in CLD according to age, gender and ethnicity. Methods Clinically diagnosed CLD in the general population aged 20–59 years in the Veneto Region (North-Eastern Italy) were identified through the Adjusted Clinical Groups System, by record linkage of the archive of subjects enrolled in the Regional Health System with Hospital Discharge Records, Emergency Room visits, Chronic disease registry for copayment exemptions, and the Home care database. Age-standardized prevalence rates (PR) were computed in Italians and immigrants, based on country of citizenship. Results Overall 22,934 subjects affected by CLD in 2016 were retrieved, 21% related to HBV and 43% to HCV infection. The prevalence of HCV-related CLD was higher in males, peaking at 50–54 years (males = 11/1000; females = 4/1000). The PR of HBV-related CLD was almost negligible in the Italian population (1/1000), and higher among immigrants, especially from East Asia (males = 17/1000; females = 11/1000) and Sub-Saharan Africa (males = 13/1000; females = 10/1000). Conclusion Specific population sub-groups identified by age, gender, and ethnicity, were demonstrated to be at increased risk, and these trends are in line with global epidemiological patterns of viral hepatitis.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of chronic liver disease among young/middle-aged adults in Northern Italy: role of hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infection by age, sex, ethnicity

Fedeli

Avossa

Ferroni

et al. 2019

Heliyon

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“…Within this context, Italy has been affected by at least two distinct major epidemic waves: the first wave, associated with unsafe healthcare procedures, occurred in the 1950s and 1960s; the second wave affected young adults in the late 1970s and 1980s along with the diffusion of intravenous drug use . Such a complex epidemiological scenario is reflected by seroprevalence surveys demonstrating a bimodal distribution of HCV infection, with higher rates in the elderly and a minor peak in younger subjects, and by analyses of death certificates: in 2011‐2013, mortality rates associated with HCV infection increased exponentially with age in both genders, with a further peak observed in the 50‐ to 54‐year age‐group especially among males . Due to the vanishing effect of the oldest epidemic, HCV infection in Italy might be considered as a feature mostly of elderly subjects, with a declining burden of associated chronic liver disease …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Increasing mortality associated with the more recent epidemic wave of hepatitis C virus infection in Northern Italy

Fedeli

2018

Journal of Viral Hepatitis

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“…Furthermore, mortality data confirm the presence of two distinct epidemic waves that have partly been associated with different HCV subtypes[18]. A bimodal distribution of HCV infection has been previously reported by seroprevalence surveys conducted both in Northern[19] as well as in Southern Italy[20], and by analyses of the mention of HCV infection in records from a sample of Italian general practitioners[21]. The peak in middle-aged subjects is most likely associated with intravenous drug abuse as well as with other risk factors (including tattoos and piercing) typical of younger generations[19].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 60%

Mortality associated with hepatitis C and hepatitis B virus infection: A nationwide study on multiple causes of death data

Fedeli

Grande

Grippo

et al. 2017

WJG

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AIMTo analyze mortality associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Italy.METHODSDeath certificates mentioning either HBV or HCV infection were retrieved from the Italian National Cause of Death Register for the years 2011-2013. Mortality rates and proportional mortality (percentage of deaths with mention of HCV/HBV among all registered deaths) were computed by gender and age class. The geographical variability in HCV-related mortality rates was investigated by directly age-standardized rates (European standard population). Proportional mortality for HCV and HBV among subjects aged 20-59 years was assessed in the native population and in different immigrant groups.RESULTSHCV infection was mentioned in 1.6% (n = 27730) and HBV infection in 0.2% (n = 3838) of all deaths among subjects aged ≥ 20 years. Mortality rates associated with HCV infection increased exponentially with age in both genders, with a male to female ratio close to unity among the elderly; a further peak was observed in the 50-54 year age group especially among male subjects. HCV-related mortality rates were higher in Southern Italy among elderly people (45/100000 in subjects aged 60-79 and 125/100000 in subjects aged ≥ 80 years), and in North-Western Italy among middle-aged subjects (9/100000 in the 40-59 year age group). Proportional mortality was higher among Italian citizens and North African immigrants for HCV, and among Sub-Saharan African and Asian immigrants for HBV.CONCLUSIONPopulation ageing, immigration, and new therapeutic approaches are shaping the epidemiology of virus-related chronic liver disease. In spite of limits due to the incomplete reporting and misclassification of the etiology of liver disease, mortality data represent an additional source of information for surveillance.

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High seroprevalence of HCV in the Abruzzo Region, Italy: results on a large sample from opt-out pre-surgical screening

Abstract: Data retrieved from opt-out pre-surgical screening programs may allow inexpensive and easy-to-perform estimates of HCV seroprevalence from large samples of unselected patients with a well-defined provenience, which may turn useful for future treatment resource allocation.

Cited by 11 publications

References 38 publications

Prevalence of chronic liver disease among young/middle-aged adults in Northern Italy: role of hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infection by age, sex, ethnicity

Prevalence of chronic liver disease among young/middle-aged adults in Northern Italy: role of hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infection by age, sex, ethnicity

Increasing mortality associated with the more recent epidemic wave of hepatitis C virus infection in Northern Italy

Mortality associated with hepatitis C and hepatitis B virus infection: A nationwide study on multiple causes of death data

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