Mortality from liver diseases attributable to hepatitis B and C in the EU/EEA – descriptive analysis and estimation of 2015 baseline. Issue 9 (1st September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mårdh, Otilia; Quinten, Chantal; Amato-Gauci, Andrew J.; Duffell, Erika
• Is Part Of: Infectious diseases. Volume 52:Issue 9(2020)
• Page Start: 625
• Page End: 637
• Publication Date: 2020-09-01
• Subjects: Mortality -- hepatitis B -- hepatitis C -- Attributable fraction -- EU/EEA -- Baseline; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases; Periodicals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1080/23744235.2020.1766104
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2374-4235

Abstract

Abstract: Background: WHO has set target to reduce mortality attributable to hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) by 65% by 2030, with 2015 as baseline. We aimed to describe the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) baseline mortality from liver diseases, as defined by WHO Core-10 indicator through ICD-10 codes, and estimate mortality attributable to HBV and HCV. Methods: Age-standardised mortality rates per 100, 000 for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, ICD-10 C22.0), chronic liver disease (CLD, ICD-10 K72-K75) and chronic viral hepatitis B and C (CHB/CHC, ICD-10 B18.1-B18.3) were calculated by gender, age-group and country using 2015 Eurostat data. Because aetiology fraction (AF) estimates were lacking for HCC and CLD as defined by C10, number of deaths in EU/EEA countries in 2015 from liver cancer (ICD-10 C22) and 'cirrhosis and other chronic liver diseases' (ICD-10 B18–B18.9, I85–I85.9, I98.2, K70–K70.3, K71.7, K74–K74.9, K75.2, K75.4–K76.2, K76.4–K76.9 and K77.8) were adjusted by corresponding AF estimates from Global Burden of Disease publications. Results: In 2015, there were wide variations across countries in mortality rates from HCC, CLD and CHB/CHC. A 2015 mortality baseline of 63, 927 deaths attributable to HBV and HCV is proposed, that includes 55% of liver cancer and 45% of 'cirrhosis and other chronic liver diseases' deaths. Conclusions: The HBV and HCV attributable mortality in the EU/EEA is high. Greater efforts are needed to identify HBV and HCV infections at an early stage and link cases to care to reduce mortality from liver diseases. Country-specific AF estimates are needed to accurately estimate HBV, HCV associated mortality.