title: Prevalence and estimation of hepatitis B and C infections in the WHO European Region: a review of data focusing on the countries outside the European Union and the European Free Trade Association.
abstract: Knowledge of hepatitis B and C prevalence, and numbers infected, are important for planning responses. Published HBsAg and anti-HCV prevalences for the 20 WHO European Region countries outside the EU/EFTA were extracted, to complement published data for the EU/EFTA. The general population prevalence of HBsAg (median 3·8%, mean 5·0%, seven countries) ranged from 1·3% (Ukraine) to 13% (Uzbekistan), and anti-HCV (median 2·3%, mean 3·8%, 10 countries) from 0·5% (Serbia, Tajikistan) to 13% (Uzbekistan). People who inject drugs had the highest prevalence of both infections (HBsAg: median 6·8%, mean 8·2%, 13 countries; anti-HCV: median 46%, mean 46%, 17 countries), and prevalence was also elevated in men who have sex with men and sex workers. Simple estimates indicated 13·3 million (1·8%) adults have HBsAg and 15·0 million (2·0%) HCV RNA in the WHO European Region; prevalences were higher outside the EU/EFTA countries. Efforts to prevent, diagnose, and treat these infections need to be maintained and improved. This article may not be reprinted or reused in any way in order to promote any commercial products or services.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research on Drugs & Health Behaviour, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: V D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Hope
authors.affiliation: HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Infections and Viral Hepatitis Programme, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Eramova
authors.affiliation: HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Infections and Viral Hepatitis Programme, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Capurro
authors.affiliation: HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Infections and Viral Hepatitis Programme, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Donoghoe
mesh_terms: D001782:Blood Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005061:Europe, Eastern / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens / Q000097:blood; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D060386:Sex Workers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens