Towards elimination of hepatitis B and C in European Union and European Economic Area countries: monitoring the World Health Organization’s global health sector strategy core indicators and scaling up key interventions

Abstract

The World Health Organization ‘Global Health Sector Strategy on Viral Hepatitis 2016–2021’ aimed at the elimination of viral hepatitis as a public health threat provides a significant opportunity to increase efforts for tackling the epidemics of hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infections across Europe. To support the implementation and monitoring of this strategy, core epidemiological and programmatic indicators have been proposed necessitating specific surveys, the systematic collection of programmatic data and the establishment of monitoring across the care pathway. European Union and European Economic Area countries already made progress in recent years implementing primary and secondary prevention measures. Indeed, harm reduction measures among people who inject drugs reach many of those who need them and most countries have a universal hepatitis B vaccination programme with high coverage above 95%. However, while a further scaling up of prevention interventions will impact on incidence of new infections, treating those already infected is necessary to achieve reductions in mortality. The epidemiological, demographic and socio-political situation in Europe is complex, and considerable diversity in the programmatic responses to the hepatitis epidemic exists. Comprehension of such issues alongside collaboration between key organisations and countries will underpin any chance of successfully eliminating hepatitis.

Alkol ve uyuşturucu madde bağımlıları tedavi merkezinde hepatit ve HIV enfeksiyonlarının taranması

“…AIDS related deaths is forecasted to come under 200.000 in 2020 by diagnosing 90% of the patients infected by HIV, initiation of the treatment in 90% of the diagnosed patients, and complete suppression of the virus in 90% of the persons whose treatment is initiated, is known as "90-90-90" ratio. The risk of infections can be reduced by awareness-raising activities [30,31]. In a study from a mental care hospital from our country of the patients 2.7% were HBsAg positive and 1.8% were anti HCV positive which supports our findings [32].…”

“…In this study, the high rate of infection in opioid users was compatible with the literature [29]. The World Health Organisation have a hepatitis strategy 2016-2021 would be expected to deliver a 70% reduction in HCV incidence by 2030 (50% reduction by 2020) compared with 2010, and 60% reduction in HCV-related deaths by 2030 compared with 2010 [27,30]. AIDS related deaths is forecasted to come under 200.000 in 2020 by diagnosing 90% of the patients infected by HIV, initiation of the treatment in 90% of the diagnosed patients, and complete suppression of the virus in 90% of the persons whose treatment is initiated, is known as "90-90-90" ratio.…”

Comparison of effectiveness and discontinuation of interferon‐free therapy for hepatitis C in prison inmates and noninmates

“…Several studies suggest that the incidence of this infection has decreased over the last half‐century; however, mortality due to viral hepatitis has increased by 22% since 2000. The resources allocated to the prevention and control of hepatitis are suboptimal in the European Union (EU) . In its global health sector strategy report of 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) proposed that chronic hepatitis C (ChHC) might be eliminated in high‐income countries if occult infection is better detected, if measures are applied to prevent transmission of infection, and if access to treatment is improved…”

“…The resources allocated to the prevention and control of hepatitis are suboptimal in the European Union (EU). 4,5 In its global health sector strategy report of 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) proposed that chronic hepatitis C (ChHC) might be eliminated in high-income countries if occult infection is better detected, if measures are applied to prevent transmission of infection, and if access to treatment is improved. 6 The treatment of ChHC is very important because it reduces morbidity and mortality and may avoid the transmission of infection, although at present there is no empirical evidence of the impact of treatment or of prevention strategies on its population prevalence.…”

Hepatitis C Prevalence and Management Among Patients Receiving Opioid Substitution Treatment in General Practice in Ireland: Baseline Data from a Feasibility Study (Preprint)

“…In this paper, we aim to describe the current management of HCV among patients on OST attending general practice in Ireland in light of current guidelines aimed at scaling up interventions to reduce chronic HCV infection and associated mortality [29,30].…”