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SDG 3: hepatitis

Abstract

Introduction

A national study from 2006 to 2008 showed a high antibody prevalence of 3.2% against hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Romania, but more recent epidemiological data on hepatitis C prevalence are lacking.

Aim

We aimed to estimate the current prevalence of HCV antibodies (anti-HCV) and chronic HCV infection in the general adult population in Romania, as a crucial element in monitoring progress towards eliminating hepatitis C.

Methods

We used anonymised leftover sera from a SARS-CoV-2 survey conducted between July and October 2020 (n = 2,100), supplemented with sera collected prospectively between July 2022 and March 2023 (n = 574). These included sera collected from adults visiting laboratories for routine medical check-ups. Sera were tested for anti-HCV and HCV core antigen and classified according to anti-HCV and chronic infection status.

Results

Of the total 2,674 specimens tested, 44 were anti-HCV-positive with a weighted anti-HCV prevalence of 1.4% (95% CI: 1.0–1.9), and 29 were HCV core antigen-positive with a weighted prevalence of chronic infection of 0.9% (95% CI: 0.5–1.2). The prevalence of chronic infection did not differ significantly between men and women. It was higher in persons 60 years and older (2.0%; 95% CI: 1.1–3.0) and in specimens from the North-East region (2.2%; 95% CI: 0.8–3.7).

Conclusion

Although the overall HCV prevalence in Romania is currently low, targeted screening, prevention measures and treatment scale-up are needed especially for the population 60 years and older and in the north-eastern part of the country to achieve the goal of ending the hepatitis C epidemic.

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2024-07-25
2024-12-21
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Prevalence of chronic hepatitis C infection in the general population: results from a national survey, Romania, 2020 to 2023
<p class="citation"> <span>Citation style for this article:</span> <span class="meta-value authors"> <a href="/search?value1=Mira+Hleyhel&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Hleyhel Mira</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Odette+Popovici&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Popovici Odette</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Mihaela+Leu%C8%99tean&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Leuștean Mihaela</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Suzanne+Reed&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Reed Suzanne</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Amal+Sadou&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Sadou Amal</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Martina+Furegato&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Furegato Martina</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Benjamin+Bluemel&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Bluemel Benjamin</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Erika+Duffell&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Duffell Erika</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Otilia+Mardh&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Mardh Otilia</a></span>. Prevalence of chronic hepatitis C infection in the general population: results from a national survey, Romania, 2020 to 2023. <a href="/content/ecdc">Euro Surveill.</a> 2024;29(30):pii=2300663. <a href="https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2024.29.30.2300663" title="doi link" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2024.29.30.2300663</a> <span class="ES_Article_citation"> <span class="generated">Received</span>: 22 Nov 2023;&nbsp;&nbsp; <span class="generated">Accepted</span>: 10 Jun 2024 </span> </p>
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