Current Issues of Epidemiological Surveillance of Chronic Viral Hepatitis B, C, D and Hepatocellular Carcinoma at the Regional Level

Introduction. To achieve the goal of eliminating viral hepatitis by 2030, it is necessary to assess the real situation, improve epidemiological surveillance and prevention of these infections.

Objectives: To evaluate the results of epidemiological surveillance of chronic viral hepatitis B, C, D and hepatocellular carcinoma in order to optimize the surveillance system at the regional level.

Materials and methods: We analyzed the incidence of viral hepatitis B, C and liver cancer in the regions of the Northwestern and Central Federal Districts of the Russian Federation over the past 10 years. We also studied the prevalence of hepatitis B, C, D, and hepatitis C virus genotypes (6,020 cases), and examined 465 case histories of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in the Leningrad Region using techniques of epidemiological analysis, ELISA, PCR, and statistical methods.

Results: We established a tendency towards a decrease in the incidence of chronic hepatitis B and C in all study areas. In 2020, high rates of hepatitis B (26.2 and 9.1) and hepatitis C (49.2 and 39.2) were registered in St. Petersburg and Moscow per 100,000 population, respectively. The prevalence of hepatitis D in the Leningrad Region was 6.3 per 100,000 population. Hepatitis C virus genotypes 1 and 3 prevailed (48.9 % and 43.9 %, respectively). A high incidence of liver cancer was established in St. Petersburg, the Pskov and Novgorod Regions.

Conclusions: Our findings prove the efficiency of the surveillance system and prevention of chronic hepatitis B and C. The main objectives are to further reduce the incidence rate, screen all patients with chronic hepatitis B for hepatitis D, and use the results of molecular genetic studies and cancer registries for epidemiological surveillance purposes.

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