A new study underscores the growing threat of hepatitis C (HCV) infection among women of reproductive age on a global scale. Conducted by Yanzheng Zou and colleagues from Nanjing Medical University’s School of Public Health in China, the research, published online in the Journal of Global Health on April 19, delves into the concerning uptick in both acute hepatitis C (AHC) and HCV-related cirrhosis cases spanning from 1990 to 2019.
Drawing on data from the Global Burden of Disease study, the team scrutinized the worldwide incidence and temporal patterns of AHC and HCV-related cirrhosis among women aged 15 to 49. Their analysis revealed a significant rise in global incidences of AHC and HCV-related cirrhosis by 46.45% and 72.74%, respectively, over the study period.
Of notable concern are the trends observed across various sociodemographic regions. While low sociodemographic index areas exhibited the highest age-standardized incidence rates of AHC, these rates demonstrated a downward trajectory. Conversely, age-standardized incidence rates of HCV-related cirrhosis showcased unfavorable trends across low, low-middle, and high sociodemographic index regions. Notably, regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, high-income North America, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia witnessed high incidence rates or escalating trends of AHC and HCV-related cirrhosis.
In light of these findings, the authors underscore the resurgence in the risk of AHC and HCV-related cirrhosis in recent years, posing significant challenges for HCV elimination efforts.
