Epidemiology of HCV infection in Central and Eastern Europe

is the estimation of prevalence of HCV infection in fourteen Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC).

This review describes the comparative data of persons possessing anti-HCV antibodies and persons with HCV viremia (% of population and number) in fourteen Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC). The study was performed according to data on the ≥15 years of age populations obtained from the Statistical Offices of the countries.

The prevalence of anti-HCV in populations varied between 0.27 and 3.5%. The lowest values were reported from Kosovo, Hungary, Germany and the Czech Republic; 0.3-0.6%. The highest values of anti-HCV antibodies were noted in Latvia, Lithuania and Romania; 2.4, 2.85 and 3.5%, respectively. From eight countries the percentages of persons with HCV viremia were available (0.2-3.5%).

The paper gives an estimate of the number of people infected with HCV in the general population of 8 countries from the CSEEC region. This number is approximately ~1.16 million.