Clin Mol Hepatol.
2023 Jul;29(3):779-793. 10.3350/cmh.2023.0110.
Core indicators related to the elimination of hepatitis B and C virus infection in South Korea: A nationwide study
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Internal Medicine, Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Jeonbuk National University-Biomedical Research Institute of Jeonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Korea
- 2Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
- 3Cancer Control and Population Health, Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea
- 4Department of Internal Medicine, Uijeongbu Eulji Medical Center, Eulji University School of Medicine, Uijeongbu, Korea
- 5Department of Internal Medicine, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Korea
- 6Department of Internal Medicine, Institute for Digestive Research, Digestive Disease Center, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- 7Department of Internal Medicine, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Goyang, Korea
- 8Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yonsei Liver Center, Severance Hospital, Seoul, Korea
- 9Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- 10College of Pharmacy, Sahmyook University, Seoul, Korea
- KMID: 2543994
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.3350/cmh.2023.0110
Abstract
- Background/Aims
To eliminate hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria in 2021, this study investigated the national core indicators representing the current status of viral hepatitis B and C in South Korea.
Methods
We analyzed the incidence, linkage-to-care, treatment, and mortality rates of HBV and HCV infection using the integrated nationwide big data of South Korea.
Results
According to data from 2018–2020, the incidence of acute HBV infection in South Korea was 0.71 cases per 100,000 population; tthe linkage-to-care rate was only 39.4%. Among those who need hepatitis B treatment, the treatment rate was 67.3%, which was less than 80% reported in the WHO program index. The annual liver-related mortality due to HBV was 18.85 cases per 100,000 population, exceeding the WHO target of four; the most frequent cause of death was liver cancer (54.1%). The annual incidence of newly diagnosed HCV infection was 11.9 cases per 100,000 population, which was higher than the WHO impact target of five. Among HCV-infected patients, the linkage-to-care rate was 65.5% while the treatment rate was 56.8%, which were below the targets of 90% and 80%, respectively. The liver-related annual mortality rate due to HCV infection was 2.02 cases per 100,000 population.
Conclusions
Many of the current indicators identified in the Korean population did not satisfy the WHO criteria for validation of viral hepatitis elimination. Hence, a comprehensive national strategy should be urgently developed with continuous monitoring of the targets in South Korea.
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