HBV Is Significantly Undertreated Worldwide

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is significantly underdiagnosed and undertreated worldwide despite current initiatives set forth by the 69th World Health Assembly approved the Global Health Sector Strategy to eradicate viral hepatitis by 2030, according to new study data.

According to model estimates provided for 120 countries by the Polaris Observatory Collaborators, only 10% of HBV infections around the world were diagnosed, of which only 5% of infections were treated with antiviral therapy.
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The models were developed using a Delphi process that included a literature review of existing evidence found in PubMed and Embase, as well as interviews with experts.

Subsequently, the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and the effect of prophylaxis and treatment on disease burden in 2016 were estimated using a dynamic HBV transmission and progression model.

Findings indicated an estimated 291,992,000 HBV infections occurred worldwide, which translated to a global prevalence 3.9%. Of these infections, only 29 million were diagnosed, and only 4.8 million treatment-eligible individuals ultimately received antiviral therapy.

The researchers noted that approximately 1.8 million infections occurred in children aged 5 years. An estimated 87% of infants worldwide received the 3-dose HBV vaccination during their first year of life, 46% received timely birth-dose vaccination, and 13% received hepatitis B immunoglobulin with the full vaccination regimen.

“Our estimate of HBV prevalence in 2016 differs from previous studies, potentially because we took into account the effect of infant prophylaxis and early childhood vaccination, as well as changing prevalence over time,” the researchers wrote.

“Although some regions are well on their way to meeting prophylaxis and prevalence targets, all regions must substantially scale-up access to diagnosis and treatment to meet the global targets,” they concluded.

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

The Polaris Observatory Collaborators. Global prevalence, treatment, and prevention of hepatitis B virus infection in 2016: a modelling study [Published online March 26, 2018]. Lancet Gastroentrol Hepatol. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-1253(18)30056-6.