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Author Spotlight: Advancements and Challenges in Hepatitis B Virus Detection
Published on: December 15, 2023
From recommendations to practice ‒ Tracking the national rollout of comprehensive hepatitis diagnosis in Spain
Joaquín Cabezas1, Antonio Aguilera2, Federico García García3
1Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Spain.
Introduction:
the comprehensive diagnosis of viral hepatitis is an advance towards its elimination, but not all Spanish hospitals performed this diagnosis in 2022. Our objective was to evaluate the situation of the comprehensive diagnosis after the publication of the guidelines and evaluate the degree of implementation in the centers that responded to both surveys.
Methods:
a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 79 hospitals that had participated in the initial survey. They were reinvited to respond via Google Forms (sent 23/12/2024).
Results:
the response rate was 91 % (72/79). Compared to the previous year, reflex testing increased by 3 %, with notable increases for hepatitis B virus (HBV) (33 %), hepatitis C virus (HCV) (2 %), hepatitis D virus (HDV) (45 %) and dual HBV-HDV (79 %). Anti-HDV and HDV-RNA testing increased by 18 % and 21 %, respectively. Alerts to specialist physicians rose by 24.1 % for HBV and 52.9 % for HDV. Automated appointment systems and referral mechanisms also expanded. Hepatitis A virus (HAV) testing was integrated in 38 % of centers, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing in 50 %, and sexually transmitted infections (STI) testing in 56 %.
Conclusions:
awareness and implementation of integrated diagnostics, particularly for hepatitis D, have improved. Nonetheless, further progress is needed to ensure broader coverage and to contribute towards World Health Organization (WHO) elimination goals.
