Significant decrease in the prevalence of hepatitis C infection after the introduction of direct acting antivirals

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Accurate hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) epidemiology is crucial for public health planning.
• Previous epidemiological data in Catalonia needed updating to inform regional strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the current prevalence of HCV and HBV infections in Catalonia.
• To identify associated risk factors for these infections.
• To implement and evaluate a linkage-to-care pathway for positive cases.

Main Methods:

• A community-based study involving 3328 adults in Catalonia.
• Utilized point-of-care tests for anti-HCV and HBsAg detection.
• Collected risk factor data via questionnaires and validated positive results.

Main Results:

• Overall prevalence of anti-HCV was 1.02% and HBsAg was 0.52%.
• HCV infection prevalence decreased significantly, attributed to direct-acting antiviral therapy.
• HBV infection was predominantly found in foreign migrants, unlike HCV which was more common in autochthonous individuals.

Conclusions:

• Direct-acting antiviral therapies have significantly reduced HCV prevalence in Catalonia.
• Hepatitis B infection in Catalonia is increasingly linked to the migrant population.
• Effective linkage-to-care for hepatitis B patients remains a challenge requiring further intervention.