BACKGROUND: Epidemiological data are crucial to monitoring progress towards the 2030 Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) elimination targets. Our aim was to estimate the prevalence of chronic HCV infection (cHCV) in the European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) countries in 2019. METHODS: Multi-parameter evidence synthesis (MPES) was used to produce national estimates of cHCV defined as: π = π(rec)ρ(rec) + π(ex)ρ(ex) + π(non)ρ(non); π(rec), π(ex), and π(non) represent cHCV prevalence among recent people who inject drugs (PWID), ex-PWID, and non-PWID, respectively, while ρ(rec), ρ(ex), and ρ(non) represent the proportions of these groups in the population. Information sources included the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) national operational contact points (NCPs) and prevalence database, the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction databases, and the published literature. FINDINGS: The cHCV prevalence in 29 of 30 EU/EEA countries in 2019 was 0.50% [95% Credible Interval (CrI): 0.46%, 0.55%]. The highest cHCV prevalence was observed in the eastern EU/EEA (0.88%; 95% CrI: 0.81%, 0.94%). At least 35.76% (95% CrI: 33.07%, 38.60%) of the overall cHCV prevalence in EU/EEA countries was associated with injecting drugs. INTERPRETATION: Using MPES and collaborating with ECDC NCPs, we estimated the prevalence of cHCV in the EU/EEA to be low. Some areas experience higher cHCV prevalence while a third of prevalent cHCV infections was attributed to PWID. Further efforts are needed to scale up prevention measures and the diagnosis and treatment of infected individuals, especially in the east of the EU/EEA and among PWID. FUNDING: ECDC.
Auteur : Thomadakis Christos, Gountas Ilias, Duffell Erika, Gountas Konstantinos, Bluemel Benjamin, Seyler Thomas, Pericoli Filippo Maria, Kászoni-Rückerl Irene, El-Khatib Ziad, Busch Martin, Schmutterer Irene, Vanwolleghem Thomas, Klamer Sofieke, Plettinckx Els, Mortgat Laure, Van Beckhoven Dominique, Varleva Tonka, Kosanovic Licina Mirjana Lana, Nemeth Blazic Tatjana, Nonković Diana, Theophanous Fanitsa, Nemecek Vratislav, Maly Marek, Christensen Peer Brehm, Cowan Susan, Rüütel Kristi, Brummer-Korvenkontio Henrikki, Brouard Cécile, Steffen Gyde, Krings Amrei, Dudareva Sandra, Zimmermann Ruth, Nikolopoulou Georgia, Molnár Zsuzsanna, Kozma Emese, Gottfredsson Magnús, Murphy Niamh, Kondili Loreta A, Tosti Maria Elena, Ciccaglione Anna Rita, Suligoi Barbara, Nikiforova Raina, Putnina Renate, Jancoriene Ligita, Seguin-Devaux Carole, Melillo Tanya, Boyd Anders, van der Valk Marc, Op de Coul Eline, Whittaker Robert, Kløvstad Hilde, Stępień Małgorzata, Rosińska Magdalena, Valente Cristina, Marinho Rui Tato, Popovici Odette, Avdičová Mária, Kerlik Jana, Klavs Irena, Maticic Mojca, Diaz Asuncion, Del Amo Julia, Lundberg Ederth Josefine, Axelsson Maria, Nikolopoulos Georgios
The Lancet regional health. Europe, 2024, vol. 36, p. 100792
