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Hepatitis C prevalence in Denmark -an estimate based on multiple national registers
Peer Brehm Christensen1, Gordon Hay, Peter Jepsen
1Department of Infectious Diseases, Odense University Hospital, Odense C 29 5000, Denmark. peer.christensen@dadlnet.dk
Insights
The estimated prevalence of chronic hepatitis C in Denmark is 0.38%. Less than half of individuals with hepatitis C have been diagnosed, highlighting a significant gap in identification and specialized care for this viral infection.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Chronic hepatitis C prevalence in Denmark was previously unknown.
- A national survey was needed to estimate disease burden and healthcare utilization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the prevalence of chronic hepatitis C in Denmark.
- To determine the proportion of diagnosed patients receiving specialized healthcare.
Main Methods:
- Utilized four national registers: laboratory, hospital discharge, viral hepatitis database, and communicable diseases register.
- Employed capture-recapture analysis to estimate the diagnosed population.
- Assessed undiagnosed cases using the national drug user register.
Main Results:
- Identified 6,935 diagnosed patients, estimating a total diagnosed population of 9,166 (0.21% of Danes >15 years).
- Prevalence was highest in the 40-49 age group (0.39%) and males (0.28%).
- Estimated 46% of chronic hepatitis C patients remained undiagnosed, with a total estimated prevalence of 0.38% (16,888 individuals).
Conclusions:
- The overall estimated prevalence of chronic hepatitis C in Denmark is 0.38%.
- Less than half of all chronic hepatitis C cases have been identified.
- Only one-third of diagnosed patients have accessed specialized healthcare services.
Background:
A national survey for chronic hepatitis C has not been performed in Denmark and the prevalence is unknown. Our aim was to estimate the prevalence of chronic hepatitis C from public registers and the proportion of these patients who received specialized healthcare.
Methods:
Patients with a diagnosis of chronic hepatitis C were identified from four national registers: a laboratory register, the Hospital Discharge Register, a clinical database of chronic viral hepatitis and the Register of Communicable Diseases. The total population diagnosed with hepatitis C was estimated by capture-recapture analysis. The population with undiagnosed hepatitis C was derived from the national register of drug users by comparing diagnosed and tested persons.
Results:
A total of 6,935 patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C were identified in the four registers and the estimated population diagnosed with the disease was 9,166 persons (95% C.I. interval 8,973 - 9,877), corresponding to 0.21% (95% CI 0.21%-0.23%) of the Danish population over 15 years of age. The prevalence was highest among persons 40-49 years old (0.39%) and males (0.28%). It was estimated that 40% of the diagnosed patients lived in the capital region, and 33.5% had attended specialised healthcare. It was estimated that 46% of hepatitis C patients had not been diagnosed and the total population with chronic hepatitis C in Denmark was 16,888 (95% C.I. 16,474-18,287), corresponding to 0.38% (95% CI 0.37-0.42) of the population over 15 years of age.
Conclusions:
The estimated prevalence of chronic hepatitis C in Denmark was 0.38%. Less than half of the patients with chronic hepatitis C in Denmark have been identified and among these patients, one in three has attended specialised care.
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