Prevalence and estimation of hepatitis B and C infections in the WHO European Region: a review of data focusing on the countries outside the European Union and the European Free Trade Association

Knowledge of hepatitis B and C prevalence, and numbers infected, are important for planning responses. Published HBsAg and anti-HCV prevalences for the 20 WHO European Region countries outside the EU/EFTA were extracted, to complement published data for the EU/EFTA. The general population prevalence...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Epidemiology and infection Vol. 142; no. 2; pp. 270 - 286
Main Authors: HOPE, V. D., ERAMOVA, I., CAPURRO, D., DONOGHOE, M. C.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.02.2014
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Blood & organ donations
Blood donation
Blood Donors - statistics & numerical data
Chronic illnesses
Epidemics
Europe, Eastern - epidemiology
Female
Free trade
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Hepacivirus
Hepatitis
Hepatitis antigens
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B - epidemiology
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens - blood
Hepatitis B virus
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C - epidemiology
Hepatitis C Antigens - blood
Hepatitis C virus
HIV infections
Homosexuality, Male - statistics & numerical data
Human viral diseases
Humans
Infections
Infectious diseases
Literature reviews
Liver cancer
Liver cirrhosis
Liver diseases
Male
Medical sciences
Microbiology
Original Papers
Population estimates
Pregnancy
Prevalence
Seroepidemiologic Studies
Sex workers
Sex Workers - statistics & numerical data
Statistical median
Viral diseases
Viral hepatitis
Europe, Eastern
Europe
prevalence
European Region
hepatitis B
Epidemiology
hepatitis C
Infection
Viral hepatitis B
Prevalence
Viral disease
Digestive diseases
Hepatic disease
Review
ISSN:0950-2688, 1469-4409, 1469-4409
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Knowledge of hepatitis B and C prevalence, and numbers infected, are important for planning responses. Published HBsAg and anti-HCV prevalences for the 20 WHO European Region countries outside the EU/EFTA were extracted, to complement published data for the EU/EFTA. The general population prevalence of HBsAg (median 3·8%, mean 5·0%, seven countries) ranged from 1·3% (Ukraine) to 13% (Uzbekistan), and anti-HCV (median 2·3%, mean 3·8%, 10 countries) from 0·5% (Serbia, Tajikistan) to 13% (Uzbekistan). People who inject drugs had the highest prevalence of both infections (HBsAg: median 6·8%, mean 8·2%, 13 countries; anti-HCV: median 46%, mean 46%, 17 countries), and prevalence was also elevated in men who have sex with men and sex workers. Simple estimates indicated 13·3 million (1·8%) adults have HBsAg and 15·0 million (2·0%) HCV RNA in the WHO European Region; prevalences were higher outside the EU/EFTA countries. Efforts to prevent, diagnose, and treat these infections need to be maintained and improved. This article may not be reprinted or reused in any way in order to promote any commercial products or services.
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ISSN:0950-2688
1469-4409
1469-4409
DOI:10.1017/S0950268813000940